My father is Jiajing

Inside the Qinzheng Hall.

Zhu Zaiji sat blankly on the dragon throne, the mountain of memorials piled up in front of him untouched.

The charcoal fire inside the hall burned extremely brightly, but Zhu Zaiji felt cold all over, as if he had caught a bad cold. However, he could not feel any physical pain, only the sadness and grief in his heart over the fact that the Jiajing Emperor had passed away.

Although Zhu Zaiji had long been mentally prepared for this day to come.

But when that day finally arrived, Zhu Zaiji realized that his so-called preparations were nothing more than a self-deceptive psychological suggestion.

If time could be turned back to more than 20 years ago, when he first traveled to this era, and if he could maintain the same mindset as when he first traveled to see the Jiajing Emperor...

Then Zhu Zaiji wouldn't be as upset as he is now.

After all, at that time, he had very little affection for the Jiajing Emperor.

For the Jiajing Emperor at that time, his life and death were no different from the death of the recently deceased Crown Prince Zhuangjing—just the death of an insignificant stranger.

However, after more than twenty years of experience, the father-son relationship between Zhu Zaiji and the Jiajing Emperor gradually moved from unfamiliarity to authenticity, and Zhu Zaiji truly felt the care and love that the Jiajing Emperor had always shown him.

Otherwise, given his immature and childish personality when he first arrived in the world, and the things he did, he certainly wouldn't have received any leniency from the Jiajing Emperor; in fact, he would have been severely reprimanded and punished.

But at that time, no matter what he did, the Jiajing Emperor seemed not to see it, and silently indulged him, letting him do what he wanted to do according to his own mood.

Meng Chong glanced at the meal that the small kitchen had carefully prepared on the table, which had long since gone cold, and couldn't help but feel worried.

As a senior eunuch who had served Zhu Zaiji his entire life, this was the first time he had ever seen Zhu Zaiji like this.

Meng Chong was also extremely distressed; he didn't want Zhu Zaiji to continue being so heartbroken.

"Your Majesty, you have not eaten or drunk anything for a day and a night."

Meng Chong knelt on the steps, looking at Zhu Zaiji with a choked voice.

Zhu Zaiji seemed not to hear, staring blankly at the snow falling outside the palace.

The Jiajing Emperor has passed away.

The Daoist Emperor, whom he had once feared, misunderstood, and even secretly resented, was gone.

It was only at this moment that Zhu Zaiji realized that, at some point in time, the Jiajing Emperor had become a true father figure in his heart.

Therefore, it is only natural to imagine how distressed and pained Zhu Zaiji must have felt at this moment.

"Your Majesty, please say something! His Highness the Crown Prince and all the officials are waiting outside the palace. They are all extremely concerned about you."

Tears welled up in Meng Chong's eyes and fell like an unstoppable downpour.

Zhu Zaiji slowly came to his senses and looked at Meng Chong.

His voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like his own. "Let them all go back. I want to be alone for a while."

Although Zhu Zaiji's voice was extremely worrying, at least there was a response.

Upon hearing this, Meng Chong quickly said, "Your Majesty, please have something to eat first."

Zhu Zaiji nodded slowly, then waved his hand, signaling Meng Chong to step back.

Seeing Zhu Zaiji like this, Meng Chong felt both distressed and helpless, but there was nothing he could do but obediently retreat.

After Meng Chong withdrew, Zhu Zaiji finally slowly got up, moved, and walked to the window.

Zhu Zaiji watched as the snowflakes silently fell onto the white ice surface of Nanhai Lake. Apart from the red walls in the distance, the world was a pure white, just like Zhu Zaiji's current mood.

Zhu Zaiji's gaze at the lake gradually blurred, and memories from the depths of his mind surged forth like a tide.
He felt as if he had suddenly returned to the time when he had just transmigrated. At that time, he thought he was dreaming and even yelled that he wanted to punch Meng Chong, but in the end he was tied up.

When Zhu Zaiji later met Li Shizhen, he was filled with awe and respect, and immediately gave all the money in his palace to Li Shizhen.

Later, after gradually understanding the situation, Zhu Zaiji realized that what he was having was not a dream, but a real time travel.

At that time, although Zhu Zaiji was very satisfied with his status as a prince, he also harbored resentment and mockery towards the Jiajing Emperor, who had become his adoptive father. He thought the Jiajing Emperor was a tyrannical ruler who was obsessed with power struggles, devoted to Taoist practices, and disregarded the lives of ordinary people.

However, as he learned more and as more events unfolded, Zhu Zaiji gradually changed his preconceived notions and began to seriously consider and accept the existence of the Jiajing Emperor.

I remember that in the second year after I transmigrated, which was the 28th year of the Jiajing reign, Altan Khan led 100,000 cavalry to break through the Great Wall and head straight for Beijing. The court was in chaos, and some ministers even suggested moving the capital to Nanjing.

Knowing all this all along, Zhu Zaiji left the city ahead of time and went to the Shunyi Industrial Park he had created. Relying on his foresight, he fearlessly organized troops and seized the military power of Feng Bao, who came to protect the Shunyi Industrial Park.

With lightly armed cavalry, they headed straight for Huangyugou, where they ambushed a large Datong army that had launched a surprise attack on the Great Wall from there.

He was incredibly fortunate to have achieved such success at that time.

It must be understood that there has never been a battle that is guaranteed to be won on the battlefield, both ancient and modern.

But at that time, Zhu Zaiji relied on his inexplicable confidence, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, to complete this impossible and heaven-defying operation!

When Emperor Jiajing learned that the person who led the army to victory was Zhu Zaiji, he quickly covered up Zhu Zaiji's identity and sent more Beijing garrison troops to support him, giving Zhu Zaiji the most important military power inside and outside the capital!

It can be said that without the trust and support of the Jiajing Emperor, no matter how capable Zhu Zaiji was, he could not have achieved such successive victories!

Later, after defeating Anda, Zhu Zaiji retired with his achievements, but he was also uneasy.

However, the Jiajing Emperor would question him about the crime of arbitrarily mobilizing troops, but in the end, he was not only not punished, but was also appointed as the person in charge of rewarding the victorious army. He celebrated and hosted a banquet for the meritorious officials in the defense of the capital with civil and military officials in the Wuying Hall!
What Zhu Zaiji didn't expect was that the Jiajing Emperor actually rewarded his false identity handsomely. He not only gave the false identity that had successfully retired, but also conferred a marquis title and added the title of meritorious official.

It can be said that Zhu Zaiji at that time never expected that the Jiajing Emperor would do this.

Later, as the Shunyi Industrial Park grew larger and larger...

Gradually, some people began to impeach him for competing with the people for profit.

But at that time, Zhu Zaiji naively believed that Huang Jin had shares in his industrial park, so no matter who sued him, it wouldn't matter.

Therefore, he continued to expand the influence of Shunyi Industrial Park with impunity.

However, Zhu Zaiji later realized that the reason these impeachments were ineffective was because the Jiajing Emperor was secretly covering for him.

Therefore, no matter how much attention he made back then, in the end there were no problems.

Thinking of this, Zhu Zaiji felt a complex mix of emotions. How could he have been so foolish back then?
I thought of everyone, including myself, but I couldn't think of the Jiajing Emperor.

Later, with the establishment of the Beijing Special Zone.

With the emergence of the Federal Reserve Bank of China.

As Zhu Zaiji's power grew, the Jiajing Emperor finally granted him the power to oversee the country.

Although at the beginning, Zhu Zaiji's power of regency seemed to be just for show, as he only looked at the various memorials sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Office of Transmission in his own palace.

But as time went on, Zhu Zaiji's power of regentship began to shift from nominal to real, and he began to oversee the country and rule as the sole ruler in the Wenhua Hall, a place where only the crown prince could attend classes. Therefore, at that time, Zhu Zaiji gradually began to reflect on and reconsider his relationship with the Jiajing Emperor, and what the Jiajing Emperor's true feelings were towards him.

Zhu Zaiji seemed to suddenly realize that everything the Jiajing Emperor did was not to deliberately create a sense of mystery for himself, nor was it to use his son as a pawn in the balance of power.

Instead, they are nurturing him in a unique way!

And we didn't interfere too much with him, allowing him to grow step by step through practice.

Even the prophetic saying "two dragons never meet" now seems to have been a well-intentioned deed by the Jiajing Emperor.

Emperor Jiajing was a superstitious Taoist and firmly believed that "when two dragons meet, one of them will surely be injured," even after so many of his sons had died.

That's why he had to deliberately reduce his meetings with his son. His indifference and lack of contact with his son wasn't because he didn't love him, but because he was afraid that if the prophecy really came true again, it would harm himself or his son!
As Zhu Zaiji thought about these past events, tears streamed down his face.

He recalled that over the past twenty years, whenever he encountered difficulties, there was always unexpected help.

Every mistake he made was forgiven; every risk he took was averted. All of this was due to the secret protection and support of the Jiajing Emperor.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Meng Chong's exclamation pulled Zhu Zaiji back from his memories.

Zhu Zaiji then realized that he had been in tears for some time, and the front of his mourning clothes was soaked.

"Prepare the carriage, I am going to the Longevity Palace."

Zhu Zaiji suddenly said this.

Upon hearing this, Meng Chong was greatly alarmed and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus's coffin has been moved to the Qianqing Palace."

Zhu Zaiji took a deep breath and continued, "I know! I want to go and see the place where the Emperor Emeritus last lived, to find any trace of his existence."

Zhu Zaiji's words also silenced Meng Chong.

He knew that this was Zhu Zaiji's unchangeable will!
So Meng Chong also got to work, preparing a sedan chair for Zhu Zaiji, but after the sedan chair was ready...

Zhu Zaiji, however, did not ride in the car and chose to walk instead.

He left the Hall of Diligent Governance and walked towards the Palace of Longevity.

Meng Chong and his guards followed cautiously behind, not daring to make a sound.

Zhu Zaiji trudged through the snow and finally arrived at the Wanshou Palace.

At this moment, Wanshou Palace was practically deserted.

Only a few eunuchs remained here; the rest of the people and guards had already left.

After all, the Wanshou Palace is no longer the residence of the retired emperor.

It has become an ordinary palace, without any special features.

However, when Zhu Zaiji entered the Wanshou Palace and saw everything familiar inside, it felt as if he had returned to his daily life, to the days when he visited the Jiajing Emperor.

Zhu Zaiji continued walking into the Wanshou Palace. Along the way, all the eunuchs who saw him dared not utter a sound, silently kneeling on the ground to the side, heads bowed, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face.

Zhu Zaiji seemed not to notice their presence and walked straight past them.

Finally, when Zhu Zaiji crossed the hall of Wanshou Palace and arrived in front of the refined residence inside, he looked at everything inside.

Only then did they realize that the slender, otherworldly figure was no longer there.

Zhu Zaiji then walked to the futon where the Jiajing Emperor often sat. He reached out and touched the futon, which still seemed to retain a trace of warmth, making Zhu Zaiji feel very warm.

Then, Zhu Zaiji walked to the desk in the study and looked at the neatly arranged copy of the Tao Te Ching, as well as some other books that the Jiajing Emperor used to read on a daily basis.

Zhu Zaiji's vision was blurred by tears once again.

He knew that from now on, these books would never see their original owner again.

Zhu Zaiji reached out and touched one of the books, and a note hidden in the interlocking pages fell out.

Zhu Zaiji picked up the note and was surprised to find that it contained a sentence written to him by the Jiajing Emperor.

"Third son: I know you will eventually understand. I entrust the empire to you, and my heart is at peace. —Father"

Upon seeing these simple words, Zhu Zaiji burst into tears and couldn't help but sob.

He knew that from then on, the Jiajing Emperor would never leave him another word, and this note was the last and only one.

"Father! Your son is unfilial; he understands too late."

Zhu Zaiji blamed himself for harboring resentment towards the Jiajing Emperor, thinking about all the Emperor's faults and criticizing his pursuit of immortality.

Now all doubts and misunderstandings have vanished in this moment.

That seemingly indifferent father always loved him in the deepest way, giving him the freedom to grow while secretly protecting him from harm; he strictly demanded of him the way of a ruler while tolerating every adventure he took.
Meng Chong and the other eunuchs knelt outside the palace, listening to the emperor's sobbing inside, and all of them wept.

They had never seen this composed emperor so out of control.

After crying until he was silent, Zhu Zaiji finally slowly got up and carefully put the note into his pocket.

He glanced around the Wanshou Palace one last time and said softly, "Father, rest assured, your son will make the Ming Dynasty great again, becoming a vast empire unparalleled in the world, and let its light shine throughout the ages!"

Stepping out of the palace gates, Zhu Zaiji had regained his imperial dignity, though tears still lingered in the corners of his eyes.

He looked up at the gray sky, snowflakes falling on his face, as cold as his father's last caress.

"Issue the imperial decree: I will personally determine the posthumous title for the Emperor Emeritus."

Zhu Zaiji said to Meng Chong, "The title 'Shizong' proposed by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites is too ordinary. I want to give the title 'Holy Ancestor' to the retired emperor."

Meng Chong was shocked: "Your Majesty, this...this...this..."

Zhu Zaiji's gaze was firm as he earnestly stated, "The Retired Emperor's achievements are outstanding. He lifted the sea ban, quelled the Japanese pirates, annexed the Mongols, and continued the Grand Ceremony, rivaling the achievements of Emperor Chengzu!"

"Furthermore, the former emperor ascended the throne as a member of the imperial clan, which is how my imperial lineage came to be established. He should be regarded as an ancestor and enjoy eternal worship!"

At this moment, Zhu Zaiji's attitude also became clear and firm. He did this not only to make up for his misunderstanding of the Jiajing Emperor when he was young, but also to further strengthen his own legal authority!
Therefore, no matter how loud the debate on this matter was, Zhu Zaiji would still elevate the status of the Jiajing Emperor to highlight the stability of his position and the limitlessness of his power!

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