Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 186 The Emperor's Grace and Power
This is destined to be a protracted battle.

Zhu Changluo knew that the biggest variable was actually himself.

The Taichang Dynasty needs to exist long enough, and Zhu Changluo needs to continue to have good enough health and energy.

He should be diligent, but not so diligent that he ruins his body.

The more serious the situation is, the more we need to learn to live with our worries and the more patience we need.

The Yongwei Battalion was only prepared for extremely severe situations, but before that, Zhu Changluo was prepared to fully support Wang Xijue and the New Party.

It is enough to pull in one faction, even if they encounter great resistance and the results are mediocre, as long as there is improvement and the momentum is created it will be fine.

The emperor has already raised the banner, and there is always a steady stream of people who see the unstoppable trend and join the cause, either for their ideals or for power.

Therefore, combine work and rest and enjoy the Spring Festival with peace of mind.

At the end of December, Zhu Changluo dealt with the remaining five of the eight older sisters one by one. Now there is one empress, two concubines, ten imperial consorts and six imperial concubines in the palace.

After sending these older sisters to various palaces to "teach" other newcomers how to get along in the palace, three of the twelve east and west palaces were left empty.

Zhu Changluo walked around all the palaces to let them know that the emperor had not forgotten them.

Among the final fifty ladies, there were only three Zhaoyi and five Jieyushi, in addition to one queen and two concubines. There were also thirty-nine ladies who were given titles such as noble ladies, talented ladies, etc., and temporarily lived in the side halls of the palaces.

They are not palace maids, but their status is not high enough, and they do not have special eunuchs or palace maids to serve them. They are just waiting for favor in the palace.

This wait may last a lifetime.

If you eat it, you have to acknowledge it, and if you acknowledge it, you have to give corresponding treatment. If there are more people who receive corresponding treatment, the treasury will arrange more money to support them.

Zhu Changluo is in charge of his lower body and is now able to control the order of the harem's status in an orderly manner.

Qi Yuechan, who moved to Chuxiu Palace, was only favored a few times before the emperor's wedding. From the wedding to now, she has been "unemployed" for several months.

On the first day of the New Year, the emperor actually came to Chuxiu Palace. She was naturally very happy.

When Zhu Changluo came here, he naturally would not stay in the back hall where she lived, but sat in the main hall.

The concubine Liu Suqing in Chuxiu Palace had her heart beating extremely fast, and her eyes seemed to stick to him.

"Before the Lantern Festival, I have more free time." Zhu Changluo looked at the "nobles" who came to the main hall to see him in Chuxiu Palace. "You may be frightened by what happened before the New Year, but now I come to see you. After choosing the empress last April, I haven't seen you for several months. I can hardly remember the names of some of you, so I will try to make a better impression these days. I will stay in Chuxiu Palace today and take a good look at you."

The emperor was smiling, and everyone in Chuxiu Palace was naturally very happy.

And since Zhu Changluo wanted to stay in Chuxiu Palace, he naturally couldn't just stay there.

There wasn't much other entertainment, but everyone had some talent, so it felt like a small party, and time passed slowly.

They all wanted to show off in front of Zhu Changluo. Zhu Changluo felt very relaxed as he looked at those young and beautiful faces.

It's time to relax during the New Year.

Some people danced to the music in front of him, some people fed him food, and some people pinched his shoulders and beat his legs. This was the enjoyment of an emperor.

He hasn't enjoyed himself like this in the past year, and now it's time to relax.

If you bring someone in and don't take responsibility, the situation will probably become more and more distorted in the future. The incident with Li Siqin was a warning to the harem, and now it's time to give them some rain and comfort.

As long as you are young and don’t do anything crazy, it’s a proper balance of yin and yang.

Similarly, although the people below the rank of imperial concubines in various palaces had more contact time with the emperor during these nine days, they still did not get what they wanted.

The emperor seemed to be reminiscing about the past, or emphasizing the order of seniority, and he only favored the Zhaoyi and Jieyushi in each palace.

Even including Li Siqin, who had been frightened for more than ten days.

There was no place for other "guests" in the palaces of Concubine Shu and Concubine Li.

On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, the emperor stayed in the Kunning Palace.

Guo Lanzhi naturally knew what had happened in the past few days. She looked at Zhu Changluo with a complicated expression: "Now I can't sleep with you..."

"Just rest and take care of your baby." Zhu Changluo smiled and shook his head. "Everyone is looking forward to your grace. You can't split your attention to manage the harem now, so I let these eight people go to help discipline them first. But it's not good to leave them alone forever. I can only work a little harder so that they can have hope."

Guo Lanzhi curled her lips and said, "Why are you so tired? I heard that there is music and laughter in the palace every day. Isn't it happy?"

"Who told you that? Mo Xin, did you tell me that?"

Sun Moxin lowered her head and said nothing.

"I think so." Zhu Changluo chuckled, "Just walk around once, it will at least comfort you for a while. You don't have to go over there in the next few days, I can just concentrate on accompanying you."

His rank was below that of the previous concubine. Shufei Fan Sirong and Lifei Liu Yi were both ranked on the eighth and ninth day of the first lunar month.

Although it seemed that the Queen was at the end of the queue, he was indeed in Kunning Palace for the next two days.

What a painstaking effort.

After two days, Guo Lanzhi felt bad about staying in Kunning Palace.

"Your Majesty loves me, I know." Her cheeks blushed slightly, "But I tease you every night, how can I bear to let you go without getting what you want?"

"…I didn't mean to tease you on purpose. I was just having some fun while enjoying myself."

Zhu Changluo was telling the truth, it was just a habit. How come playing with it before going to bed would arouse him and make him unable to get what he wanted every night?

"…If Your Majesty is interested in this child, Mo Xin…" Guo Lanzhi said hesitantly and nervously.

She was mentally prepared for this, and knowing that the emperor demoted her to the rank of imperial concubine because of Li Siqin's competition for favor in Chengqian Palace, and that he had been so focused on appeasing the harem during this period, Guo Lanzhi also became a little worried about the future of the harem.

It was just the beginning, and because she was pregnant, the palaces were eager to take advantage of the opportunity to gain favor. In the future, when someone became a concubine and had a prince or princess... Guo Lanzhi also began to feel alone.

"Moxin?"

Zhu Changluo looked at Sun Moxin, who lowered her head and looked at a loss after hearing what she said, and then said, "It's a little smaller."

Sun Moxin lowered her head even more and looked at her chest: Is it small?
"It's been the New Year, and you're already fifteen years old." Seeing that Zhu Changluo only said "young", Guo Lanzhi added another sentence.

Zhu Changluo shook his head: "Let's talk about it in two or three years. Besides, you are pregnant now, and I will feel more at ease if she takes care of you."

"...Alright." Guo Lanzhi smiled and said, "Moxin, His Majesty has promised you, why don't you thank him?"

"Slave...slave..." Sun Moxin knelt down, thinking about two or three years. With this little episode, Guo Lanzhi drove Zhu Changluo back to the Qianqing Palace that night. What she meant was: Although you are just showing off your interest, it is a nightly tease for me.

Naturally, it was to express that she was satisfied with the emperor's attention. You can have fun however you want. There is no need to hold it back here. She also thought that Sun Moxin was still too young.

Zhu Changluo then recalled some of the people who had impressed him the most during his nine days wandering around the palaces, and after thinking about it carefully, he said to Wang An, "Summon Zhang Fu, a talented woman from Xianfu Palace, to sleep with you."

When Wang Jiayue saw Zhang Fu coming to the Qianqing Palace, she just lowered her head.

Among the ten people who set out from Shanxi together, only Fan Sirong and Zhang Fu, the daughter of a branch of the Zhang family, made it into the final list of fifty people.

After tonight, Zhang Fu will become a true noble, or at least a concubine.

This was also the first person in the palace, except for the eight female officials, who was favored with an ordinary low rank.

She was Simen, and could still hear Zhang Fu's gentle and graceful words of joy.

Moreover, this time Zhang Fu did not leave after serving the emperor. The emperor actually let her stay.

The next morning, Zhang Fu walked away with some difficulty.

Zhu Changluo ordered: "Xiupin is weak, Jiayue, you help her. Wang An, you make arrangements to have Xiupin move to Zhongcui Palace."

Wang An and Wang Jiayue couldn't help but be shocked.

She was directly appointed as a concubine. Did the emperor like her so much?
The favor of the imperial harem all depended on the emperor's grace, and Zhang Fu's sudden promotion to concubine must have shocked the harem.

If there is one, there will be two. The rules set by the emperor are there.

Then just wait for grace.

Wang Jiayue supported Zhang Fu, and Wang An sent someone to carry the sedan chair over.

"Congratulations to Concubine Xiu." Wang Jiayue said in a low voice.

"I would also like to thank... Wang Simen."

Wang Jiayue looked at her in surprise: What do you mean?
Zhang Fu just smiled and said nothing more.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Changluo was preparing to pay his respects in the west warm room.

There was no way to keep her in the bedroom, because who knew she was so introverted and sensitive, and she was as weak as a spring.

But it's really exciting.

Let her be canonized as a concubine. Let Zhang Zhizheng, who is in charge of the grain store, hear about it and he will be more attentive this year.

The first half of the first month of the year was almost over, and Zhu Changluo felt refreshed and ready to start his official work in the new year.

At this time, Kong Shangxian was struggling.

On the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month last year, he had already expressed his intention to set an example in front of the emperor.

After the message was sent back on the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, two elders of the Kong family finally arrived in the capital.

"Lord, does our Kong family really have to pay taxes according to the preferential exemption rules? How much money is that? I'm afraid that our branch and the side branches have already heard of the decree. You have to give us a word!"

Naturally, all sacrificial fields should be exempted. This is the grace bestowed by the imperial court on the Yanshenggong Mansion and the Confucius Temple in Qufu.

But what about Qufu County, where the Kong family has been the hereditary magistrate? How should this new policy be implemented?

What about the other land properties of the Kong family?

With the support of Duke Yansheng's Mansion, the Kong family did not need to care much about fame and honor. Therefore, apart from a small number of family members who held official positions and had achievements, the Kong family had too many fields and people who should not be exempted.

Kong Shangxian looked at them, and he himself was also frowning: "What else?"

"The whole world is looking at the Kong family! Lord Saint, if we don't fight for it, will the gentry in the world still respect the Kong family in the future?"

"It is because the whole world is watching the Kong family, so Your Majesty asks the Kong family to set an example first!" Kong Shangxian felt very painful, "The gentry of the world want the Kong family to take the lead, but although Jiangnan is far away, Qufu is very close!"

"Your Majesty is the descendant of the most sage and teacher. Your Majesty is so indifferent to us. Wouldn't the gentry of the world be disheartened? You must show some special favor..."

An elder of the clan was complaining, and what he said made Kong Shangxian worried.

Another elder said, "Even if the Holy Lord said so, how can the branches and families obey him? If the Holy Lord cannot protect the families, there might be trouble again."

There are already too many descendants of Kong lying under the big tree of Yanshenggong Mansion.

Kong Shangxian also knew what they meant, so he said, "In short, we must obey! In this way, I will not be considered to be violating the will of the emperor. If there is any trouble again, I will continue to persuade them! This is the will of the emperor. The more the Kong family yields now, the more His Majesty will show us special favor if there is any change in the future."

"Retreat in order to advance?"

"Otherwise, will you take the lead in disobeying the Holy Will?"

"What if I withdraw, but nothing happens in the future?"

Kong Shangxian shook his head firmly: "There will definitely be changes! If the new party gains power, the court will definitely make further progress. The gentry of the world can give in once or twice, but are they really willing to give in again and again, and end up being no different from the common people? In any case, the Kong family cannot be in the forefront!"

Even though they are descendants of the great sage, the Kong family has been able to stand until today and has its own way of survival.

Their submission and concession represent the submission and concession of all gentry in the world.

Their dissatisfaction also represents the dissatisfaction of the gentry all over the world.

This dissatisfaction will accumulate and accumulate, and one day the emperor will be able to see it. Even if Kong Shangxian tries hard to persuade him, the huge Kong family cannot be suppressed by him alone.

If the Kong family wanted to change someone to be the Duke of Yansheng, it also meant that the gentry in the world wanted to change someone else...

Did the emperor really eliminate the Kong family and treat all the gentry in the world as straw dogs and slaves?

The official decree issued on the first day of the first lunar month had by then been gradually spread throughout the Ming Dynasty.

The imperial edict was only issued to local government offices, and then passed on to local elders and gentry by local officials.

In the eyes of ordinary people, it is just a new year. This year is the second year of Taichang.

But in the eyes of local gentry and wealthy families, the Ming Dynasty was about to change.

The power of heaven is so awe-inspiring!
(End of this chapter)