Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 88 Prelude to a Coup

Control your diet and move your legs—this is the cheapest and safest way to lose weight. But it's easier said than done. Zhu Changluo is fat and broad, and his joints are like they've never been opened. The slightest movement will cause the joints to pull the muscles and protest with soreness.

"Ha! Ha!" After just a few quick laps around the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Changluo was already gasping for breath. Waves of clean, cool air flowed through his nose and lungs, transforming into warm, damp, and stagnant air as he exhaled. The stagnant air condensed into a cloud of white mist, but before it could naturally dissipate, it was swept away by the next cloud of mist.

After finishing his exercise, Zhu Changluo returned to his bedroom, changed into clean underwear, and drank a few cups of warm water. The warmth in his stomach made him feel comfortable. When the chill in his body had dispelled, he walked towards the Huangji Gate.

In the Ming Dynasty, fuel was not something to be taken for granted. Poor families had no money to buy charcoal, and no one to gather firewood, so they "never cooked soup, and only ate cold dishes year-round." Even when guests came to their homes, they were often served empty cakes and cold dishes. For those who could not even afford hot meals, hot water was a luxury.

But it is obvious that the emperor is not among them. Among the twenty-four offices of the inner court, there is an agency called Xixinsi. Xixinsi has three sub-institutions: the Hot Fire Department, the Firewood and Charcoal Department, and the Kang Heating Department. They are specifically responsible for the matches and charcoal in the palace.

Ever since Zhu Changluo requested warm, cold water, the Xixinsi increased the supply of charcoal to various locations, including the Qianqing Palace and the Huangji Hall. From then on, Zhu Changluo's frequented areas were equipped with a stove and three kettles. One kettle was constantly boiling water, one held cooled, cold water, and the last was empty, used to mix warm, cold water.

"Your Majesty." Zhu Youxiao and his younger brother Zhu Youjian were guarding the door of the right wing of the Huangji Palace. When their father approached, they bowed and saluted.

After a period of getting along, Zhu Youxiao's fear of Zhu Changluo had gradually disappeared. So when they met, he no longer performed the formalities between the emperor and his subjects, but the ordinary etiquette between father and son.

"Come in." Zhu Changluo gently patted the two princes' heads.

The first class of the day was traditional Confucianism, focusing on filial piety and forgiveness. Zhu Changluo had little interest in it, so he sat in the back row, writing and drawing as usual with a pen and paper.

The imperial tutor Sun Chengzong pretended not to see anything. He knew very well that the emperor was not there to teach, but to supervise the students.

It was not uncommon for the emperor to supervise and examine the princes, but Zhu Changluo's personal involvement in the matter every day was indeed unprecedented.

The one-hour morning class was quickly over. Zhu Changluo rolled up the fruits of his labor with satisfaction and handed it to Wang An.

Just as Zhu Changluo was about to leave, Zhu Youxiao came running over and called out to him, "Father."

"What's wrong? Is there anything wrong?" Zhu Changluo asked with a smile.

"This." Zhu Youxiao pulled out a wooden ball. "I saw a hollowed-out Hetian jade ball in the palace and thought it was very beautiful, so I carved one out of wood."

Isn't this the "heavy outside, light inside" ball of Emperor Jiajing? Zhu Changluo smiled inwardly and asked, "Is it for me?"

Zhu Changluo was about to reach out to take it when he heard Zhu Youjian say, "Father, this is from my brother, my eighth sister. My brother wants you to pass it on to me."

Eighth sister? Zhu Changluo's mind raced for a while before he remembered who this eighth princess was.

The eighth princess was named Zhu Huiti. She was born on March 6, the 40th year of the Wanli reign. She was eight years old at the time, only one year younger than Zhu Youjian.

When Zhu Changluo was about to ask why Zhu Youxiao didn't go himself, he suddenly remembered another thing: Zhu Huiti was the daughter of Xi Li, that is, Li Zhulan.

Li Zhulan was truly favored. When Zhu Youjian was five years old, his mother, Lady Liu, angered the Crown Prince and was punished and executed. Following Lady Liu's death, Zhu Youjian followed in his brother's footsteps and was given to Li Zhulan's care by his father. Fortunately, Li Zhulan gave birth to the ninth daughter, Zhu Huizhen, and she was too busy caring for four children alone. Therefore, Zhu Youjian was transferred to the care of the kind and quiet Dong Li.

Zhu Changluo took the imitation hollow wooden ball and returned it to Zhu Youxiao. "I still have government affairs to attend to. So, after lunch, come to the South Study and I will go with you."

"This..." Zhu Youxiao turned around and glanced at the imperial tutor Sun Chengzong, as if he suddenly understood something. "Yes, sir."

Zhu Changluo walked all the way back to the Southern Study. At that moment, Wei Chao was at his desk, sorting out the reports submitted this morning by the Ministry of Public Administration. Seeing the emperor come in, Wei Chao quickly put down what he was holding, knelt down and said, "Your servant greets the master."

"Get up." Zhu Changluo waved his hand and walked straight to the throne.

A moment later, Wang An walked to the door and instructed the still-kneeling eunuch, "What are you doing here, you ignorant little brat? Hurry and bring cakes and tea to the master."

The eunuch was new. The moment he saw the emperor, his mind went blank and he instantly forgot the instructions he had heard last night. He was filled with fear and at a loss.

"No need for the pastries." Zhu Changluo's voice came from deep within the hall.

"Did you hear me? Go quickly!" Wang An gently kicked the eunuch's butt.

"Oh, okay." The eunuch got up in a hurry and ran out, forgetting even his name.

"Oh. Young people nowadays." Wang An looked at the eunuch's back as he walked away, and suddenly remembered how he looked when he first met Emperor Longqing.

"Master, these were sent by Minister Xu. In addition, there are also the monitoring records of the Jinyiwei." Wei Chao picked up three memorials and a stack of papers and presented them to the emperor.

"A congratulatory letter from the Kingdom of Korea?" Zhu Changluo picked up the first one.

This congratulatory memorial was originally placed after the apology. However, Wei Chao considered the Joseon king's congratulatory memorial to be far more important than the apology submitted by Prince Yeongyang, so he switched the order. While doing so, he secretly cursed the Ministry of Public Security for their misplaced order.

The congratulatory letter was filled with meaningless platitudes. Zhu Changluo only flipped through it a few times before losing interest. He put it aside and said, "Let the Ministry of Rites handle it according to the rules."

"It's from North Korea again." Zhu Changluo looked at it and felt something was wrong.

That's too respectful. Ever since the Battle of Sarhu, the current King of Joseon, Gwanghaegun Yi Hun, has distanced himself from the Ming. While the situation in Liaodong has temporarily stabilized, the land routes between Ming and Joseon are still occupied by the Jiannu. Yi Hun wouldn't change his ways so quickly.

Zhu Changluo seemed to have thought of something. He closed the twelve-leaf fold and turned to the last leaf, skipping the content. When he saw the signature at the end of the memorial, he was immediately relieved.

"It's Li Jong indeed."

(End of this chapter)