Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 71: Only One Person in the World (Part )
The emperor took a step forward and stepped over the threshold to go out, but the civil and military officials did not follow him immediately. Instead, they waited silently for the other two people to appear.

Since the first court meeting at Qianqing Gate on August 22nd, it had become the unspoken rule that the eldest and fifth princes would sit behind the throne. Sure enough, the two princes, one tall and one short, emerged from behind the dragon-carved golden screen behind the throne and slowly descended the steps to the left and right of the Sumeru throne. After leaving the throne, the eunuchs dressed the princes in fitted red-collared, gold-woven fleece cloaks and white fur winter hats with warm ears.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhu Youjian, then quickly followed his father. Zhu Youjian followed closely behind his brother, but was scolded by his brother in a low voice: "Why are you following me? Go to the right side of the emperor."

Zhu Youjian nodded quickly. He trotted two steps and actually jumped in front of his brother, which made Zhu Youjian speechless. But he was afraid that his brother would be scolded by his father, so he didn't say anything else, but quickened his pace to a position on the same level as Zhu Youjian.

At this time, all the officials filed out from the side doors on both sides of the Huangji Palace.

After leaving the hall, they were surprised to find that the originally empty Danbi and Danchi were now lined with two rows of large generals in armor and holding flags. They were solemnly guarding both sides of the Danbi Road, which extended all the way from the Huangji Hall to the Huangji Gate.

The Cloud Dragon Steps, a stone staircase in the center of the Imperial Road, connected the Danbi and Danchi. No one ever walked on the Cloud Dragon Steps; the emperor would only pass through them in a sedan chair carried by bearers, which would float directly above them.

But Zhu Changluo walked down the steps slowly on the Yunlong Steps in full view of everyone, while the two princes stood on his left and right, walking down the steps together from the white marble steps on both sides of the Yunlong Steps.

In order to prevent slipping and highlight the uniqueness of the central axis, a red carpet that seems to have no end has been laid on the Yunlong steps.

Unless specifically authorized by the Imperial Order, officials were not allowed to walk on either the Cloud Dragon Stone Steps or the White Marble Steps. Therefore, all civil and military officials could only follow the Three Dragons, separated by a human wall every five steps.

The emperor entered the Huangji Gate directly from the central gate, while the two princes consciously entered from the left and right side gates.

"Please enter the Wucheng Pavilion." Wei Zhongxian commanded the military officers to enter the Wucheng Pavilion.

"Please enter Wenzhao Pavilion." Wei Chao commanded the civil servants to enter Wenzhao Pavilion.

The officials were puzzled, but they obeyed anyway. After being divided into two chambers, they discovered that court attire had been prepared according to rank, suitable for ceremonies such as grand sacrifices, celebrations for successive generations, New Year's Day, the Winter Solstice, and the Holy Festival. Only then did the officials realize that the emperor intended to transform the Chengtian Gate execution into a solemn ceremony similar to the presentation of captives in triumph.

With the help of nearly a hundred eunuchs, the officials quickly completed the process of changing into their official caps and robes. Afterwards, two eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department led the civil and military officials on their way.

When the officials passed through the side rooms on both sides of Huangji Gate, they found that the emperor and the two princes were also leaving the main hall of Huangji Gate.

At this time, the emperor had taken off his imperial crown and put on his military uniform.

Ancestral rule: The emperor wore a leather cap and was required to wear it when holding court on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, issuing imperial edicts, offering incense, presenting memorials, receiving tribute from the four barbarians, receiving foreign officials to pay homage, and announcing the names of strategists.

The Wubianfu was worn when the Ming Dynasty personally led an expedition or sent generals to fight.

The leather cap and the military cap are similar in form, with the only difference being that the cap is sharp at the top, red in color, with twelve seams, and embellished with five-colored jade in the middle, forming a star-shaped pattern.

In addition to wearing a military uniform, the emperor also held a jade sceptre engraved with "punish the guilty and pacify the people" in both hands.

Not only that, the officials also noticed that Wang An, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, who was following behind the emperor and the prince, was holding a broad, two-handed ceremonial sword decorated with gold and jade in his arms.

The wall of guards, stationed every five steps, continued to stretch from Huangji Gate across the Jinshui Bridge to Wumen Gate. The three archways of Wumen Gate were already open, but no one was guarding the walls. Only after the emperor passed through the Central Gate alone, and the princes passed through the Left and Right Wang Gates, did the guards gathered at the stairwell entrance run up to take up their posts.

After passing through the Meridian Gate, one leaves the Forbidden City and enters the Imperial City. From this point, the Duanmen Gate is just one step away from the Chengtian Gate. Between the Duanmen Gate and the Meridian Gate lies a long straight road, flanked by the six official residences. Beyond these buildings lie the Altar of Grain and Rice and the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Even before reaching the Duanmen Gate, the clamor was already there. More and more people were gathering in the corner of the Imperial City, far exceeding the capacity of the space between the two Chang'an Gates on the left and right.

To maintain order, Luo Sigong dispatched 500 armored and sword-wielding Jinyiwei to stand guard at the Daming Gate. He also ordered the Central City Military Commission to mobilize an equal number of troops to patrol the corners of the Imperial City.

At four quarters past four in the morning, a long trumpet sounded, and then the left and right doorways of Daming Gate slowly opened.

Although there are three entrances to the imperial city, namely Chang'an Left Gate, Chang'an Right Gate and Daming Gate, only Daming Gate will be opened today to ensure safety and show royal majesty.

Before the gate was opened, the Jinyiwei had already placed barricades fifteen feet in front of the Daming Gate, and stationed crossbowmen and musketeers behind the barricades. If anyone tried to take this opportunity to attack the imperial city, the Jinyiwei would disperse the crowd and suppress the riot in the first time.

Seeing this scene, the people who had originally planned to rush in to watch the excitement began to back off. No one finally mustered up the courage to be the first to step into the Daming Gate.

The note promoting Lu Wenzhao to the rank of Centurion of the Imperial Guard was delivered to the Imperial Guard Command Headquarters by a eunuch the day after his audience with the emperor. That same day, Luo Sigong publicly handed the Centurion badge to Lu Wenzhao in the main hall of the headquarters, and Lu Wenzhao tactfully knelt on one knee and took the badge with both hands.

Lu Wenzhao did not report his speculation to Luo Sigong, but continued to carry out the task of "monitoring people coming from Macau."

The Jesuit delegation stayed at Xu Guangqi's house for only one night. The Jesuits were so wealthy that they paid for a house in Zhengxifang, between Liulichang and Zhengyangmen, the next day that could accommodate the entire delegation.

The Jesuit mission's property was very close to Zhengyang Gate, and between Zhengyang Gate and Daming Gate was only a small square known as "Chessboard Street." Therefore, a group of Jesuits, including Long Huamin and Guo Jujing, and Macau merchants had long been waiting in front of the chevaux de frise set up by the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

“Why don’t they open the middle door as well?” asked Macau businessman Dinesh Joao.

"That's something only His Majesty the Emperor can do," Guo Jujing replied.

"Why keep it locked up if the emperor doesn't need it?" asked the merchant Władysław Amato.

"These are the rules." As the leader of the Jesuits, Long Huamin had been dealing with Ming officials along the way, and the word he heard most was "rules."

"Aren't we going in?" Merchant Harald Brandt didn't care about the rules, he just wanted to get in quickly.

"The first bird to stick its head out gets shot. Let's wait and see. We are foreigners after all." Long Huamin shook his head.

Because the Jesuits did not go in, Lu Wenzhao's team, who were following in plain clothes, continued to stand behind the barricades and wait.

Looking around, Lu Wenzhao saw a familiar figure.

(End of this chapter)