Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 16 The world talent show officially begins!
After venting her anger, Queen Mother Wang finally put away her smile and fell into deep thought.

Wu was honored as Empress Dowager by His Majesty, with the same title as hers.

As a result, there were two empress dowagers in the harem.

Moreover, His Majesty also let Wu exercise the power of the Queen and be in charge of the three palaces and six courtyards.

In other words, Wu, the former deposed queen, now has more power than she, the original queen.

Having been a puppet queen for more than 20 years, Wang was no longer willing to continue being a powerless puppet empress dowager.

She wants to fight!
What happened last night has shown that the current Emperor has successfully regained the imperial power.

Then the key to whether or not one can hold power lies with Zhu Youtang.

And Zhu Youtang trusted Empress Dowager Wu very much...

When she thought of this, Queen Mother Wang felt very regretful.

At that time, she was not favored by Emperor Xianzong, and the power of the harem was in the hands of Zhou. She was only concerned with self-pity and did not interfere in the affairs of the harem.

No one would have thought that the prince who was not favored at the time would actually become the emperor with great power.

If you want to win Zhu Youtang's favor now, you have to start with his concubines in the harem.

Thinking of this, Queen Mother Wang ordered: "Wrap up the golden hairpin and send it to Queen Mother Wu..."

"Forget it, I will go to Renshou Palace myself."

"Yes, ma'am."

……

Renshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Wu was discussing the selection of concubines for Zhu Youtang with the Palace Master of Chuxiu Palace and the eunuch in charge of the selection in the Imperial Household Department.

The Ming Emperor's selection of concubines was the top priority of the Ming Dynasty.

This requires cooperation among multiple departments including the harem, the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Rites and local governors.

At this time, the eunuchs' singing of greetings was heard outside the door.

"The Queen Mother Wang is here!"

Queen Mother Wu frowned and looked displeased, but soon calmed down.

Queen Mother Wang walked into Renshou Palace, and the palace maids and eunuchs around her knelt down and saluted: "Greetings, Queen Mother."

Queen Mother Wang walked forward with a smile and took Queen Mother Wu's hand.

"Sister, long time no see. Today I heard that His Majesty has honored you as the Empress Dowager, so I came here specially to congratulate you."

Queen Mother Wang waved her hand, and the palace maid behind him carried a tray and walked respectfully to Queen Mother Wu.

After taking a look at the golden hairpin on the tray, Empress Dowager Wu waved her hand and a palace maid took the tray.

"It's just a small matter, my sister can just send someone over, why do you have to come to my Renshou Palace in person?"

Queen Mother Wang sat down by herself.

"This is no small matter. His Majesty has ordered my sister to take over the power of the Queen and manage the three palaces and six courtyards in the harem."

Queen Mother Wu sat next to Queen Mother Wang, smiling without saying a word.

"The most important thing in the harem is the selection of concubines for His Majesty. Sister, do you have any idea?"

Empress Dowager Wu: "I am already discussing this matter with the Imperial Household Department and the Palace of Beauty, and we will try to start the selection of the best candidates for the whole country today."

"That's the best. I'm here to help you and assist you in organizing this talent show."

Empress Dowager Wu wanted to refuse: "It's just a small matter, so I won't bother you."

"What are you talking about, sister?"

Queen Mother Wang said sincerely: "As the Queen, I have never been able to share the worries of the late Emperor. I feel extremely guilty."

"Now that I have become the Empress Dowager, I also want to make up for the regrets of the past, share the worries of Your Majesty, and select a beautiful lady that suits Your Majesty's wishes."

Things had come to this point, and Queen Wu could only nod helplessly and agree.

That afternoon, a decree from the imperial harem was delivered to the cabinet minister Liu Jian by the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department.

Of course, due to Zhu Youtang's previous order, the harem was not allowed to contact the cabinet privately.

Therefore, this imperial edict first reached Zhu Youtang.

After reading the imperial edict, Zhu Youtang ordered Huai En: "The harem can communicate with the Ministry of Rites on its own regarding matters concerning the selection of concubines."

"But every letter must first be reviewed by the Imperial Household Department, and then a copy must be kept for record before it can be delivered." "Yes."

Liu Jian, the cabinet minister, also served as the Minister of Rites.

When this imperial edict came into his hands, it was considered reasonable and legal.

After Liu Jian received the imperial decree from the harem to select concubines for Zhu Youtang, he did not dare to delay and immediately asked officials from the Ministry of Rites to handle the matter.

At the same time, Liu Jian also began to draft an imperial edict regarding the selection of talents and submitted it to the Imperial Household Department for review.

This kind of imperial edict was a formal imperial edict written on yellow silk cloth, not Zhu Youtang's previous oral order.

After the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department received the imperial edict, he immediately handed it to Zhu Youtang for review.

After reading it, Zhu Youtang approved the imperial edict.

So Huai'en went back to the Imperial Household Department to get the seal, stamped it, and then sent it to the Cabinet without stopping.

The cabinet then signed the imperial edict and finally handed it over to the Censorate.

When the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department who was responsible for announcing the imperial decree came to the Censorate and took out the imperial edict.

All the officials of the Censorate immediately knelt on the ground and listened respectfully to the order.

"In obedience to the Emperor of Heaven and Earth, I decree: Your Majesty has been on the throne for several months, but the palace is not prosperous, and the country is not rich..."

"..."

"…Now the national beauty pageant is open. If the governors of various places find any girls of suitable age, they should be sent to the palace immediately!"

"Appreciate this!"

After writing hundreds of words, I finally got to the point.

The officials of the Censorate all kowtowed and accepted the order.

"My lord, I will obey the imperial edict!"

As for why the imperial edict had to be announced in the Censorate first, we have to mention the system of the highest local official in the Ming Dynasty, the governor.

The governor was originally a temporary official position, responsible for inspecting a certain area.

According to the official system of the Ming Dynasty, supervisory officials were not subject to the control of other officials.

Therefore, in order to facilitate inspections, every governor would hold the official title of Censor of the Censorate.

Later, the governor gradually became localized and became the highest official in the local area.

However, the tradition of the governor holding the post of censor in the Censorate has been passed down.

At this time, Zhu Youtang wanted to hold a national beauty contest, so he asked the governors of the two capitals and thirteen provinces to assist.

The Censorate was the superior institution of the governor, so generally the tasks assigned to the local governor would be passed on by the Censorate.

After the imperial edict went around the Censorate, it went to the Ministry of Rites and finally returned to the Imperial Household Department.

That afternoon, hundreds of eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department, dozens of officials from the Ministry of Rites, and a dozen people from the Censorate left the capital in a mighty procession.

The world talent show has officially begun!
……

A few days later.

Southern Zhili.

Ying Tianfu.

In a low-key residential building, a tall young man was lying on a chair in the yard, looking at the sunset in the distance.

The man was fair-skinned and beardless, charmingly handsome, with a calm expression.

Although he was just sitting there, the terrifying aura lingering around him still made it difficult for people to have the courage to look directly at him.

The servants who were responsible for taking care of him were all terrified and cautious.

I was afraid that I might not do something well enough and bring disaster upon myself.

The courtyard was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. It was as if the air was frozen, making it uncomfortable to breathe and there was a danger of suffocating to death.

suddenly!

A guard in the uniform of the Eastern Depot rushed into the courtyard, holding high a bright yellow imperial edict.

"Wang Zhi, listen to my orders!"

"His Majesty has ordered you to return to the capital immediately and reopen the Western Factory!"

(End of this chapter)