Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 110: A Prince of Learning, a Girl of Hope

In the afternoon, the two of them continued to discuss how to put more pressure on Shen Yiquan and force him to come back to take responsibility. The emperor issued an order: "Your Majesty summons the two cabinet ministers to the Yangxin Palace."

As soon as they left, they stayed in the Shen family for a long time. Finally, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat came back with the signed memorial from Shen Yikuan and went to the cabinet.

Looking at the backs of the two ministers, he, who had worked so hard to run errands, couldn't help but feel that the Prime Minister had made a mistake.

When Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue arrived at the Yangxin Palace, they were taken to the Hanchun Room in the backyard, where the emperor was leisurely leaning on the couch reading a book.

Only when he saw the two old ministers coming did he put down the book and sit up straight.

Then he said, "Since I ascended the throne, I have attended court many times. I deeply feel that I started studying too late and lack knowledge. Now that we have to wait for Elder Shen to recover from his illness, I think it would be better to hold more lectures on classics recently."

Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were stunned for a moment, thinking that they were called to discuss matters, but they did not expect this to be the arrangement.

But they immediately showed their joy: "Your Majesty is very eager to learn, and I am very happy."

But I felt uneasy.

Although there were many things to do before he ascended the throne, there were requests to hold more imperial lectures in the twelfth lunar month, but they were all kept back for some reason.

Now some people want to slack off and want to show the emperor a blunt knife, but the emperor, on the contrary, shows an attitude of wanting to learn at this time.

Next, the emperor made the excuse that he was not well-educated and went to school.

All matters were stuck and could not be decided because each department followed the rules and the cabinet ministers were unwilling to take the initiative due to illness. How could we rely on the emperor who respected culture and education and wanted to listen to all sides in order to make a wise decision?
The fact that the emperor could use something like the imperial lecture as a tool shows how skilled he was.

"Your Majesty, the secret revelations I reported previously..." Shen Shixing initiated the topic, hoping that the emperor would take a response first to test his attitude.

Zhu Changluo said with a serious expression, "I have already explained the pros and cons of the exemption. Lord Shen, I can still consider each case individually, but it requires that the court has a unified view and that the local authorities are not dissatisfied. If I agree to Lord Shen's secret request, I am afraid that someone will accuse you of partiality."

Wang Xijue couldn't help but look at him.

Shen Shixing could only smile bitterly: "I am not afraid of criticism, but state affairs are complicated and I still need your majesty's wise decision."

But if we bring the petitions for exemption submitted by local governments to the court in the hope of gaining a consensus, wouldn’t that be wishful thinking?
As long as grace of forgiveness is not universal, how can there be no injustice in the local areas?

It would be good to send out a signal first.

Zhu Changluo thought about it, nodded and said, "If there is a reason for something, and it is clear, please submit it in a memorial and I will make a decision based on the circumstances."

Shen Shixing breathed a sigh of relief and expressed his gratitude first.

"I summoned you all here for the Imperial Lecture." Zhu Changluo added, "Although I am diligent in my administration, I feel that it is difficult to make decisions and implement them. If I make decisions on everything arbitrarily, I am afraid that there will be criticisms that I do not accept advice, appoint flatterers, and cause chaos and harm the country, and my orders will not be carried out smoothly. Although my father can only use his eyes and write with difficulty, I am very worried about the gains and losses of his past administration. I think it is because I am not well-educated and do not understand the kingly way, so let's arrange the Imperial Lecture first. During this period of time, I'd better make decisions carefully."

Hearing that he had mentioned the retired emperor, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were helpless.

I wanted to continue testing whether the opinions I had already drafted could get the emperor's approval, but what else can I say now?
Although the Supreme Emperor was willful and arbitrary when he was in power, he was also constantly criticized and his orders were not carried out smoothly.

Now the emperor should learn from his lessons and act more cautiously. He should only implement "benevolent policies" that are recognized by his ministers. What's wrong with that?

For Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue, now is a good opportunity: since Shen Yikuan is not here, who will be arranged to give lectures and serve in the imperial lectures? Wouldn't that be a promotion for the two of them?

This is also good news for the ministers.

Although the emperor could not report on matters during the imperial lecture, he still had to show up. This meant that he was not prepared to follow his father's example and hide away, and it also conveyed the idea that he would respect culture and education.

It was a comfort to the editors, compilers, readers and lecturers of the Hanlin Academy.

The emperor just wanted to let the clear stream run to become the censor, wade through the muddy water, and slow down the pace of promotion, but after all, the imperial lecture had to be held.

It is always good to be able to show your knowledge and talents in front of the emperor.

The emperor acted decisively and the news soon spread out of the palace: Although there would be no court tomorrow, there would be an imperial lecture.

Moreover, the emperor was extremely studious. Under the advice of Lord Shen and Lord Wang, the imperial lectures were to be held every day recently.

When Shen Yikuan heard the news, he felt even more sick.

It seems as if Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were worried that the emperor would become lazy in his duties, so they turned the tide and achieved this feat.

What did Shen Yikuan do?

The Zhongshu Sheren travels between the cabinet and the Shen family. How could the officials not know about this?
Even if there were any matters that received the imperial approval and were reported to the six departments for implementation, it would only be Shen and Wang who would try their best to handle them and not forget to bring Shen Yikuan along.

After all, Shen Yiguan was too ill to attend court, so was it he who wrote the bill? Shen Yiguan was extremely passive. Since he knew that the emperor would not let him go and wanted him to take the blame, Shen Yiguan could not continue to be ill.

You must always be able to take the initiative and not get cheated!
……

On the 16th day of the first lunar month, the emperor went to attend the imperial lecture, and Wang An brought three hundred beauties into the palace.

The beauties entered the palace for selection through the north gate of the Forbidden City.

To the south of the North Gate is the Shunzhen Gate, which means obedience and chastity, and represents the precepts that the ladies who pass through this gate to enter the palace must abide by.

A beautiful girl who can pass this gate will never be deposed. She will either have a position or be canonized, or become a new palace maid.

After passing Shunzhen Gate is the palace garden. At this moment, only some evergreen trees are still green and some winter plums are in bloom.

Walking past the Qin'an Hall, which is located in the center and to the north of the palace's back garden, your view becomes much broader.

At least they could see the towering Kunning Palace in the south.

Among the three hundred people, one will become the master there and the head of the harem in the future.

Apart from the Grand Empress Dowager, the Queen Mother, and your Majesty's biological mother, she is the most honorable person in the entire harem.

Since they have already come here, they are naturally women who are looking forward to receiving favor.

Afterwards, they could see Kunning Palace more clearly, and they could also see Qianqing Palace, because they were going to the Six Shang Bureaus of the Palace Administration Department from the corridor on the east side of the two palaces.

For the next three months, they would live there and learn palace rules and etiquette. After three months of daily observation and examination, three people would be selected and appointed by the emperor to serve as the empress and two concubines.

To the north of the corridor, closer to the Qianqing Palace, is the Jingren Palace, which was renamed from the Chang'an Palace during the Jiajing period. To its east is the Yanxi Palace, formerly known as the Changshou Palace.

At the end of the corridor leads to Renshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's biological mother now live.

The Liushang Bureau of the Palace Administration is located between the Six Eastern Palaces and the Renshou Palace.

Now they had to go to Renshou Palace first, pay homage to the Queen Mother and the Concubine Dowager, listen to their instructions, and then start their life in the palace.

When they passed by the gate of Gongzhengsi, some of them glanced at it out of the corner of their eyes.

Fan Sirong was also among them and had already made some judgments in his mind.

If the two concubines were to be enthroned first, they would probably be placed in Jingren Palace and Yanxi Palace.

After all, it is convenient to go to Renshou Palace to pay respects in the morning and evening, and it is also convenient to go to Kunning Palace to pay respects to the empress.

The emperor might be curious about his future concubines. Besides visiting Renshou Palace to pay his respects every day, he might also take a look at the Palace Administration Office.

The palace rules are very strict, and it is impossible for these concubines waiting to be selected to leave the palace.

Even though they knew that the emperor would pass through the gate every day, how could they see him unless he came to see them in person?
When we arrived at Renshou Palace, we saw two people sitting under the eaves of the main hall from afar after entering.

"Sister, you should give the lecture."

"How can this be? My sister is the Queen Mother..."

Although Sister Wang Xi now lives in the same palace with the emperor's biological mother, the Renshou Palace is very large and has two auxiliary palaces behind it.

Now that she is free from the fear and anxiety of being with Zhu Yijun and the emperor has successfully ascended the throne, Sister Wang Xi is now happy to live out her days here.

Moreover, the emperor's biological mother was gentle and of humble origin, so it was not difficult to get along with her, and she could be considered a companion.

Now Sister Wang Xi just smiled and said, "Forget it, let me talk first. But now that the new era has come, I believe that soon the Ministry of Rites will submit the ceremony to confer the title of empress dowager on my sister. At that time, I will not decide who to choose as the emperor's concubine."

"Of course, my elder sister is the one who makes the decision. How can my younger sister have such good judgment to choose a good man?"

"That's all for later. Wang An, did you say that His Majesty is interested in choosing a concubine from among the ten?"

"To reply to the Queen Mother, that is right. It concerns your Majesty's future plans for state affairs, so I have granted you this special favor."

Sister Wang Xi nodded and said, "Then let's let those ten people stand in the front row for a while. There are only ten rows. We can take a closer look and recognize them first."

"Your servant will obey the Queen Mother's order."

(End of this chapter)