My father is Jiajing

In front of Huangji Palace.

At this moment, the main road in front of the Huangji Palace has been laid with red carpets, and both sides of the palace road are filled with ceremonial guards who are dressed in solemn and gorgeous clothes but still majestic and upright.

These guards also wore standard dress of different sizes and colors according to their respective roles and positions.

In their hands they held long axes representing royal style, or dragon flags of various colors, or standard ceremonial sabers on their clothes.

Everyone here had a solemn expression and was neatly dressed. On the squares on both sides of the palace road stood the civil and military ministers in the capital, as well as envoys from foreign vassal states.

They all stood in their respective positions according to their ranks, and only had to follow the orders of the ceremonial officers to salute and cheer to the emperor and the crown prince who were about to appear here.

Li Chunfang, Gao Gong and other cabinet members all stood at the position closest to the Huangji Hall, and they would follow the progress of the etiquette at any time, going from outside the hall to inside the hall, paying homage to the emperor and the crown prince, and presenting important political etiquette props such as the imperial seal and the imperial book.

It can be said that these senior officials are also the few people who can move their positions in this solemn and sacred ceremony.

Compared with those ordinary officials who could only stand in the square at the bottom and wait for the order from the ceremonial officers to pay homage to the emperor and the new emperor, they had much more freedom.

Moreover, they can see up close the entire process of power transfer between the emperor and the new emperor.

This is also the greatest honor and glory for them.

Therefore, at this moment, Li Chunfang, Gao Gong and others all had rosy faces and did not feel at all how cold it was outside in the capital during the first month of the year.

"Is the auspicious time coming soon?"

Li Chunfang looked up at the sun and couldn't help but sigh.

Gao Gong and others who were standing next to him, heard Li Chunfang's voice, and they all looked at the sun, which allowed them to roughly judge the time.

After they withdrew their gazes, Gao Gong also tilted his head slightly and said, "We are almost there, the ritual music has already started."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhenji, Hu Zongxian, Guo Pu, Zhang Juzheng and others also glanced at the court ritual music troupe inside and outside the Huangji Hall.

The "Zhonghe Shao Music" has indeed begun to be played!
This was the ritual music established during the Hongwu period. While the music was being played, a group of Confucian scholars dressed in Zhou Dynasty costumes sang the four-character ode to the rhythm of the music.

The lyrics are similar to the "Song of Saint Ann" written during the Yongle period: "The universe, the sun and the moon, are forever respected by all nations."

Although Li Chunfang and others were experiencing the emperor's coronation ceremony for the first time, they all knew very well that in the past, when the emperor ascended the throne, rituals and music like this were just for the musicians to set up a formation and put on a show.

It doesn't really make any sounds or sing any tunes.

The reason for this is that the coronation ceremony of the new emperor is usually the mourning period for the previous emperor.

The ascension of a new emperor to the throne is certainly cause for celebration, but the celebration should not be excessive, otherwise people will think that it is a celebration of the departure of the previous emperor.

This is certainly unacceptable for the ancient social system where filial piety is the highest moral standard.

Therefore, during the emperor’s enthronement ceremony, even if ceremonial music is prepared, it will not be played for this reason.

But this coronation ceremony was unusual.

In this coronation ceremony, the emperor took the initiative to abdicate the throne to the crown prince, so there was no issue of filial piety in terms of the mourning period for the previous emperor.

Therefore, this coronation ceremony can make the ritual music band, which has been just for show, cheerful and play the proper ritual music to celebrate the coronation of the new emperor.

As the ceremonial music sounded, Emperor Jiajing's procession finally arrived from the direction of the Qianqing Palace to the Huangji Hall.

The reason for this direction is that the emperors of the Ming Dynasty all used the Qianqing Palace as their sleeping palace.

Even though the current Emperor Jiajing has moved to the Western Garden for many years, his sleeping palace is still nominally the Qianqing Palace.

Therefore, after Emperor Jiajing's procession set out from the Western Garden, it first made a tour around the Qianqing Palace before officially heading towards the Huangji Hall.

At the same time, Zhu Zaigui's ceremonial procession of the Crown Prince also appeared from Donghua Gate and headed towards Huangji Hall.

The reason why it is called Donghua Gate instead of Daming Gate where Emperor Jiajing entered Beijing and ascended the throne.

This is because at this moment Zhu Zaigui’s identity is still the crown prince, and he is not Zhu Houcong who was the legal successor emperor holding the imperial edict.

Therefore, from the perspective of etiquette, Zhu Zaigui could only enter the palace through the Donghua Gate. Only after he ascended the throne as emperor as the crown prince did he have the formal qualification to enter the imperial palace through the Daming Gate.

This is what is called etiquette and hierarchy, a rule that cannot be broken in the heat of the moment.

Moreover, this kind of hierarchy applies both in ancient political life and in political life hundreds of years in the future.

These are also political facts that still exist, but their form may have changed so much that it seems as if they no longer exist.

But in fact, this order of respect has always existed.

It’s just like the seating arrangement when the leader attends a meeting or takes a photo with other groups, the leader always sits in the center.

This is the rule of respect and inferiority.

It cannot be easily shaken.

This is also the order of hierarchy that must be followed in modern political life. Otherwise, if everything is done at will according to so-called free ideas, chaos will definitely arise.

Therefore, the political order of hierarchy will only change with the needs of the development of the times, but it will never disappear!

Therefore, no matter whether you are doing things or being a person, you must abide by certain rules and orders, unless you can powerfully change the rules and orders and actually make them new rules that are commonly accepted.

Otherwise, even if the king of heaven came down to earth, he would have to stand up and toast!

And this is the rule!
The procession of Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui was about a cup of tea later than that of Emperor Jiajing before it arrived in front of the Huangji Hall.

After Zhu Zaigui's procession came to a complete stop, the ritual music stopped immediately, and the ceremonial officer immediately stood on the high platform in front of the Huangji Palace and shouted, "The emperor has arrived, the ritual music begins, and the Flying Dragon is played!"

"Fei Long Yin" is also one of the important ritual music in the Ming Dynasty, and is the emperor's exclusive enthronement ritual music.

It has the same functionality as the Tang Dynasty's "Taihe" and "Shuhe" music, the Song Dynasty's "Qian'an" and "Long'an" music, and the Qing Dynasty's fusion of Manchu and Mongolian music elements to create ritual music such as "Daoyingyue" in the original historical time and space.

They are all important ritual music pieces specially composed to celebrate the emperor's accession to the throne.

Moreover, the musical instruments used in these rituals are very simple and ancient, mainly bells and chimes that were popular during the Zhou Dynasty, which are also the chime bells well known to modern people.

The music produced by this ancient musical instrument not only has a solemn rhythm and demonstrates majesty, but is also majestic and full of nobility!

As the ritual music of "Flying Dragon" sounded, Zhu Zaigui, wearing auspicious clothes with twelve-chapter patterns, also held a jade sceptre and, under the guidance of the ceremonial officer, walked with powerful, confident and steady steps, stepping on the red steps under his feet, and headed towards the Huangji Hall.

When Zhu Zaigui walked across the red steps and came to the large tripod in front of the Huangji Hall, the ceremonial officer shouted again: "Stop!" Zhu Zaigui stood in front of the large tripod, gazing solemnly at the jade sceptre in his hand, without any expression of looking around.

At this time, the ceremonial officer began to sing again, "There is an imperial decree! The Crown Prince Zaiyi receives the decree."

Zhu Zaigui bowed upon hearing the voice and said, "Your Highness Zhu Zaigui respectfully listens to the Holy Instructions!"

The ceremonial officer stepped back, and the chief minister of the cabinet Li Chunfang and Duke of England Zhang Rong stepped forward together. They respectfully entered the Huangji Hall and bowed to the Jiajing Emperor who was already sitting on the dragon throne.

Then one of them asked for permission to leave, and the other one took the white jade belt and left.

Li Chunfang walked solemnly in front of Zhu Zaigui and opened the imperial edict in his hand.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I have heard that the Mandate of Heaven is not permanent, but is supported by virtue. The Crown Prince Zai is a man of noble character, very much like me. I have been granted the Mandate of Heaven for forty-five years, and I feel that the Mandate of Heaven is too heavy for me to bear forever."

"So the sacred artifacts cannot be left vacant for long, and the country cannot be without a master. The throne is passed to the crown prince Zaiqi. The heavens and the earth are witnesses to this."

"From today on, Crown Prince Zaiqi will inherit the throne. We will change the era name and establish a new title to correct the way of the Son of Heaven. Announce this to the world, so that everyone will know!"

As Li Chunfang finished reading the imperial edict, Zhu Zaigui bowed again, "Your servant Zhu Zaigui accepts the imperial edict and will obey the emperor's instructions!"

After Zhu Zaigui bowed and received the imperial edict, the ceremonial officer immediately saluted: "The Crown Prince is dressed in formal attire!"

The Duke of England, who was standing by, immediately presented the white jade belt he was holding. At the same time, other ceremonial officials who had been preparing on the side came to Zhu Zaigui and replaced the golden belt on Zhu Zaigui's waist with a white jade belt.

After changing his precious belt, Zhu Zaigui turned around and looked at all the officials in the Huangji Palace Square.

At this moment, Zhu Zaigui finally had the heroic spirit of climbing to the top of the mountain and overlooking all the other mountains!
The ceremonial officer also sang loudly at this moment: "Congratulations, Crown Prince!"

The golden-armored warriors surrounding the ceremonial officer immediately turned the ceremonial officer's shout of "Congratulations, Crown Prince" into rolling waves that echoed throughout the square of the Huangji Palace, reaching the sky!

When the hundreds of officials in the Huangji Palace Square heard the golden-armored warriors stand up and shout "Congratulations to the Crown Prince", they all knelt down in unison and said in congratulations: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, may you live a thousand years!"

After congratulating him, Zhu Zaigui took a deep breath and replied in a deep and powerful voice: "Stand up."

His voice echoed on the echo wall of the Huangji Palace, and in an instant all the civil and military officials in the Huangji Palace square heard Zhu Zaigui's voice.

All the officials bowed again: "We thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Then the ceremonial officer led Zhu Zaigui into the hall. At the same time, the ritual music started again, playing the "Zhonghe Shao Music" and then singing the "Song of Saint An"!
Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui entering the hall with eyes full of relief.

When Zhu Zaigui walked to the front of the Danbi, the ceremonial officer bowed again and said, "Stop!"

Zhu Zaigui stood under the Danbi and continued to maintain his ceremonial posture.

The ceremonial officer saw Zhu Zaigui standing in place and that Emperor Jiajing had no problem with the gesture, so he bowed again and said, "Bow!"

Zhu Zaigui obediently bowed to Emperor Jiajing again.

After Zhu Zaigui finished his greeting, the ceremonial officer uttered "Xing" again!
Then, after Zhu Zaigui stood up, the ceremonial officer continued to chant: "The emperor is wearing the crown!"

After hearing this, Emperor Jiajing also waved his hand and asked Huang Jin to go down and lead Zhu Zaigui from the Danbi to the throne of Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing looked at Zhu Zaigui who was so close to him and asked softly, "Do you dare?"

Zhu Zaigui looked into the eyes of Emperor Jiajing and replied firmly in a low voice: "Son, I dare!"

Emperor Jiajing nodded with satisfaction, reached out to tie the ribbon under Zhu Zaigui's chin, then took out a jade Yuzhu from the tray beside him and hung it on the twelve-Yu crown on Zhu Zaigui's head, officially upgrading it to the thirteen-Yu crown that only the emperor could wear.

Then Zhu Zaigui bowed again, and the ceremonial officer also sang at this moment: "Receive the treasure!"

Shang Baoqing came out holding the emperor's seal and presented it to Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing held the imperial seal in both hands, looked at it with lingering eyes, and then handed it to Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaigui raised his hands to receive the treasure.

At this moment, all the civil and military officials who entered the hall were watching this scene and witnessed with their own eyes that the imperial seal representing the emperor's supreme authority was passed from the hands of Emperor Jiajing to the hands of Zhu Zaigui.

When Zhu Zaigui took the imperial seal handed to him by Emperor Jiajing, he instantly felt a weight!
I don’t know whether this weight comes from the emperor’s seal or from the destiny and responsibility on the seal!

Zhu Zaigui took the emperor's seal, stood up under the gaze of Emperor Jiajing, then held the seal in one hand and faced the ministers, indicating that his era had arrived at this moment!

The ceremonial officer could not help but sing in a trembling voice: "Congratulations to the new emperor!"

As the words "Congratulations to the new emperor" were shouted, the ceremonial officer outside the palace also passed on the message, and the golden-armored warriors immediately shouted in unison: "Congratulations to the new emperor!"

For a moment, everyone inside and outside the palace, except Emperor Jiajing on the dragon throne, knelt down and bowed to Zhu Zaigui: "Long live the emperor!"

After the roar, Zhu Zaigui said, "Everyone, please stand up!"

"Long live thanks!"

All the officials bowed again in unison.

Zhu Zaigui looked at the officials who prostrated themselves before them, bowed again, and stood up, his gaze looking from near to far.

Zhu Zaigui then shouted in a full-throated voice: "I have issued the first imperial decree to honor your father as the Jiajing Emperor Emeritus, to live in the Wanshou Palace, to receive the same courtesy as before, and to enjoy the support of the people!"

When Zhu Zaigui issued the decree, all officials immediately bowed again: "Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor Jiajing!"

The Emperor Jiajing raised his hand slightly and said, "Stand up. I am tired. From now on, you will obey the Emperor's orders."

After saying this, Emperor Jiajing stood up and let Huang Jin support him. He left the dragon throne in the Huangji Hall and walked towards the imperial throne.

Zhu Zaigui stood in place and bowed to the departing Emperor Jiajing, "Farewell, His Majesty."

After saying this, all the officials bowed to the departing Emperor Jiajing, but they were different from Zhu Zaigui.

Zhu Zaigui stood and bowed to pay his respects, while they knelt on the ground and kowtowed to pay their respects.

It can be seen that from this moment on, everything has changed!

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