The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 309 New Dynasty
Before the Lantern Festival, overnight, the capital city seemed to be covered in a vast expanse of pear blossoms, as if a huge snowfall had blanketed the land in white.

The biting cold wind returned from the far north ice plains, howling and sweeping across 150 prefectures and states north of the Yellow River in the Ming Dynasty.

The early spring that was gradually approaching was instantly blown away by the sudden cold wind.

Snowflakes dotted the landscape, frosty patches scattered, and the restless energy in the capital, amidst the icy chill, seemed to grow even more intense.

With the passing of the Xuande era, the Zhengtong era began.

A new emperor brings a new court; a child emperor and a vacant imperial power—the first time this had happened since the founding of the Ming Dynasty—and countless people were eager to seize the opportunity.

Before his death, Emperor Xuanzong entrusted the guardianship of the current emperor to Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Sun, and left behind four regents.

On the surface, it is certainly well-equipped to handle any unforeseen circumstances.

Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Sun, with the late emperor's edict in hand, are now like emperors, holding imperial power on behalf of the emperor. From the perspective of patriarchal clan law and social order, they are an unshakeable force.

but……

The four regents appointed by the emperor may not necessarily be the same...

Even those in the court who were not well-read knew that throughout history, very few regents had a good ending!

Whoever controls the emperor controls the court.

Did the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager not have any disagreements?
Are there no conflicts between the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the four regents?

That's a struggle for supreme power!

Where did the rumor circulating in Beijing that the Empress Dowager wants Emperor Renzong's fifth son, Prince Xiang, Zhu Zhanxian, to inherit the throne come from?

Is it really something that has been passed down among the people themselves?

Its intricate nature is so complex that neither those involved nor outsiders can see it clearly.

……

The palace was quiet. The armored imperial guards were scattered in various places, standing like statues, each with a white ribbon tied around their waist and on their helmet.

The once imposing Fengtian Hall and Huagai Hall are now somewhat dimmed, having lost their masters.

At the heart of this imperial city now stands the palace of Empress Dowager Zhang and Empress Dowager Sun, with Empress Dowager Zhang being the most revered among them.

At this moment, the Grand Master of Ceremonial was kneeling before Empress Dowager Zhang, reporting in detail on the affairs of the outer court, with the focus naturally on the rumors circulating in the outer court regarding the succession to the throne.

Empress Dowager Zhang only frowned slightly, showing little panic.

She lived through the reigns of all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty and was the only person in the Ming imperial family whose status was slightly higher than Li Xianmu's. She was the principal wife of Emperor Renzong and Li Xianmu's cousin-in-law.

Her political acumen is exceptionally high.

At this moment, when rumors began to circulate in the outer court, she did not think that these were just random rumors. Instead, she immediately thought—was this a strategic retreat by the Sun family to protect the emperor? Or was it Grand Secretary Li Xianmu testing the waters?

Or maybe?
It's a warning!
After all, the late emperor's body was not yet cold, and his will clearly designated the crown prince as his successor and appointed four regents. The whole set of laws and principles was absolutely orthodox. How could it be overturned by a simple statement like "the country relies on a long-lived ruler"?
The rumor circulating in the capital now that Emperor Renzong's fifth son, Prince Xiang, Zhu Zhanxian, has absolutely no chance of ascending the throne. Even Zhu Zhanxian himself would probably be furious; it's like putting him on the hot seat.

If Zhu Qizhen is petty, he might torment him because of this incident. Even if he can't be killed, simply making him move the throne repeatedly would be enough to kill him.

"What did the Sun family say about this matter?"

"The Empress Dowager has been staying in the palace with His Majesty."

Empress Dowager Zhang raised an eyebrow. "She's quite clever."

As a mother, she naturally had a close relationship with the emperor, which was Empress Dowager Sun's greatest advantage. No matter who gained favor in the future, they could not surpass Empress Dowager Sun.

The emperor's trust is the greatest power.

"What about the Grand Secretary?"

"The Prime Minister had been working hard for some time and only returned home to rest the day before yesterday. He has not expressed any opinion on this matter."

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial reported the information he knew. After finishing, he seemed to remember something and quickly added, "It is said that someone asked about the rumors circulating in the capital about the Grand Secretary. The Grand Secretary seemed to say, 'The loyal ministers of the late emperor are still alive, and the sky of the Ming Dynasty will not fall down.' This is the only time that he seemed to have expressed his attitude."

More than just suspected.

This clearly demonstrates a firm stance: the throne can only belong to Zhu Qizhen; no one else should even dream of it!

Empress Dowager Zhang was still deep in thought when a clear, light tapping sound came from outside the room. "What is it?"

"Empress Dowager, Grand Secretary Li Xianmu requests an audience. He is currently waiting in the cabinet."

Empress Dowager Zhang then remembered that after Zhu Zhanji's death, Li Xianmu's seal that allowed him to enter the palace had become invalid, and he could no longer directly enter the second palace gate.

"Prepare the carriage for the Jinshen Hall and inform Li Xianmu that he will come to the Jinshen Hall for a meeting."

At the Empress Dowager's command, the imperial carriage was already prepared in front of the palace gate. The thick, layered walls and furs kept out all the cold wind. After the Empress Dowager boarded the carriage, a dozen strong eunuchs carried it together, and the ceremonial procession headed towards the Jinshen Hall.

After receiving the order, Li Xianmu set off from the inner cabinet and passed through the second palace gate.

He knew this road by heart when he was three years old.

When he was five years old, the Ming Taizu Emperor held his hand and walked with him step by step.

He has seen every brick and tile here for forty years.

Today was quite different. As far as the eye could see, the imperial city was covered in white snow after two consecutive days of heavy snowfall. Palace servants passed by from time to time, making a soft rustling sound as they walked through the snow.

White snow, red walls.

White resembles the tragedy of a funeral, and red resembles the stench of fresh blood.

The cold wind brushed against his face like a knife, turning it icy red in an instant. But as soon as he stepped into the Jinshen Hall, the surging heat from the earth dragon quickly dispelled all the chill from his body.

"Give the Grand Secretary a seat."

The Empress Dowager's voice came from the head of the table. There was no throne in the Jinshen Hall; the Empress Dowager sat in a chair. Li Xianmu stepped forward to pay his respects, then rose and sat down, taking the hot tea brought by a eunuch and slowly drinking it, finally easing some of his chill. "Xianmu has come to the palace to request an audience. What brings you here?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xianmu solemnly replied, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, it is naturally for the sake of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"If Xianmu has any suggestions, he should just say them directly."

All the previous emperors praised your abilities, and I am well aware of your capabilities. As long as it benefits the Ming Dynasty, I will certainly not hinder it.

"Then let's talk about the first matter. Right now, the matter of His Highness Prince Xiang is causing a great stir in the capital, leading to turmoil in the court and the country. There is no time to lose. His Highness should ascend the throne. At the grand court assembly three days from now, the Empress Dowager will bring the successor emperor to court, and all officials will pay their respects to establish the relationship between the emperor and his subjects."

"Yes!" Empress Dowager Zhang replied with a single word, as she was sparing with her words.

Li Xianmu added, “The new emperor is young and unable to grasp political affairs. In the late emperor’s will, all matters were to be consulted with the Empress Dowager.”

Your Majesty, I request that the Empress Dowager rule from behind a screen.

Empress Dowager Zhang looked at Li Xianmu with a start. As the chief regent, could he really just watch her like this and even take the initiative to help her rule from behind the curtain?
Her gaze fell upon Li Xianmu, whose features were clear and bright, still possessing the purity of a spring, like a gentle breeze in the mountains or a bright moon in the sky, elegant and refined. His innocent words did not sound like those of a prime minister who had been immersed in the power arena for decades, but rather like those of a poet.

Empress Dowager Zhang remained silent for a long time before leisurely saying, "The inner palace must not interfere in politics; this is an ancestral precept. Moreover, I am merely a woman and do not understand these important matters of the state. Ruling from behind the curtain would be detrimental to the country. The late emperor left behind four regents, and there are already arrangements in place. It is not appropriate to create any unnecessary complications."

For the first time since entering the palace, Li Xianmu, who had always been indifferent, showed a change in the expression in his eyes.

He had considered that Empress Dowager Zhang might refuse to rule from behind the curtain, because he knew her well; the Empress Dowager Zhang of the past might not have liked these things.

But power is a terrible thing; it can corrupt a person's heart and turn them into something more terrifying than a wild beast.

Even tigers don't eat their cubs, so it's common for fathers and sons in the imperial family to attack and kill each other.

Look at Wu Zetian and Lü Zhi, what did they become for the sake of supreme power? Yet Empress Dowager Zhang actually gave it up voluntarily. Just this kind of prudent self-discipline is enough to call her a sage. What difference is there between this spirit and that of Yao and Shun who abdicated the throne three generations ago?
But isn't this the kind of political ally he's looking for?

A supreme ruler who possesses immense political restraint, is not lacking in political wisdom, and is unwilling to dabble in political power too much.

Is there a more perfect political ally?
"Your Majesty, I am taking this liberty, but I do not know what considerations the Empress Dowager has for the future of the Ming Dynasty. However, I will obey any imperial decree."

It says that he strictly follows the imperial edict, but the important thing is the question that comes before it.

Empress Dowager Zhang was exceptionally intelligent. She immediately understood from Li Xianmu's question that it was not a casual inquiry, but rather a question about how the Ming Dynasty should handle its political affairs in the future.
So after a brief moment of thought, he said, “When the late emperor was alive, he would always discuss matters with his ministers. We should do the same in the future. If there are no new matters, we will follow the established rules. If there are new policies, we will discuss them in court before implementing them.”

"Xianmu, you are the chief minister and possess great talent for governing the world. Before his death, the late emperor told the current emperor that he would consult you on many political matters. Now that I have been appointed as the person who holds imperial power on behalf of the emperor, I should do the same."

Li Xianmu immediately felt relieved. Empress Dowager Zhang's words made it clear that in the future, among the court officials, Li Xianmu's opinions would prevail, with the other three regents serving as assistants.

As long as she was alive, Li Xianmu would continue to receive support no less than that during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, and would continue to hold the highest administrative power under the imperial authority.

Li Xianmu felt that everything went extremely smoothly today. Before entering the palace, he was filled with heavy thoughts. He had too much power in the previous court. If the Empress Dowager thought he was too much of a threat, she might dismantle and break up his power.

He either has to completely turn against them, or he can only accept his fate.

But to put it bluntly, he really didn't have the leverage to turn against the Empress Dowager. This Empress Dowager was too senior and held high prestige among the royal family, nobles, and even civil officials.

Moreover, he was not without rivals in the court. From the central government to the local level, he had political enemies everywhere. Even within the cabinet, Yang Shiqi's presence was always a matter of cooperation and checks and balances, never an ally.

The key to today's smooth progress lies in the fact that Empress Dowager Zhang is a woman of great principle and possesses exceptional political wisdom. She is unwilling to engage in political struggles that would harm the Ming Dynasty for the sake of power.

Thinking this, Li Xianmu solemnly cupped his hands and said, "It is a blessing for the Great Ming to have an Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager can truly be called a female Yao and Shun!"

Empress Dowager Zhang was startled, but then she realized what was happening and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Xianmu, you flatter me. You are so capable, this is only right."

This is how it should be, this is how it should be.

Li Xianmu sighed softly. It sounds simple, but it's not so easy. Today, it's Empress Dowager Zhang who's sitting here, so it's gone so smoothly. If Empress Dowager Sun were here, it wouldn't be so simple.

Thinking of Empress Dowager Sun, Li Xianmu cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask about the successor emperor?"

“He is being raised in the Sun family’s palace.” The Empress Dowager sighed softly. “The late emperor died suddenly, and the Sun family was overwhelmed with grief. Fearing that the successor emperor would follow in his footsteps, she is now quite suspicious of the outside world, so she is raising him by her side, intending to take care of him and raise him herself.”

The late emperor had few children, only two sons. Lady Sun gave birth to this one son, so naturally she cherished him dearly. If something were to happen to Zhu Qizhen, Lady Sun would probably be devastated.

Therefore, they are somewhat apprehensive now. The Empress Dowager understands this feeling and doesn't say anything.

Li Xianmu, however, felt something was amiss. Wasn't this severing the close relationship between the emperor and his ministers?
Did Empress Dowager Sun really have no other intentions?

Li Xianmu had deep suspicions, but he couldn't say anything. No one would dare to question the bond between the mother and son in the imperial family.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "What about the future studies of the succeeding emperor?"

“They are taught by the Inner Academy. Currently, there are scholars in the Inner Academy who have been castrated and entered the palace. It is acceptable for them to be the primary students of the successor emperor. We will make further arrangements when the successor emperor is thirteen or fourteen years old in a few years.”

Since the emperor did not need to take the imperial examinations, as long as he understood the principles, it was enough for him to be able to read and write, so he could be fooled.

Upon hearing this, Li Xianmu felt the veins on his forehead throbbing. He had finally heard the news he least wanted to hear. "Empress Dowager, I think this is quite inappropriate. How can the Emperor allow a eunuch to teach?"

Empress Dowager Zhang sighed slightly upon hearing this, "I also think it's inappropriate. After all, eunuchs are certainly not as good as great scholars. But now the Sun family is extremely suspicious and keeps a close eye on the emperor, so I can't say much. Let's just leave it at that."

The Empress Dowager's attitude left Li Xianmu speechless for a moment.

Just now, Li Xianmu thought that her lack of contention for the power to rule from behind the curtain was a form of contention, reminiscent of the abdication of Yao and Shun. Now, however, he felt that her lack of contention was excessive, neither vying for power in the outer court nor in the inner court.

The outer court was handed over to the regents, while the inner court was given to Empress Dowager Sun.

She acted as a mediator, a classic example of "playing the peacemaker."

All we ask is to prevent conflict between the two sides, maintain the current system, and allow the Ming Dynasty to continue operating peacefully.

Is there a problem?

It really is no problem!

As long as Empress Dowager Zhang is still alive, the Ming Dynasty will surely be prosperous and will likely not be much different from the time of Emperor Xuanzong.

But when one emperor dies and another ascends the throne, how could the situation in the world not change?
Even political allies and enemies have changed!

All these changes were suppressed by the Empress Dowager's power. Li Xianmu dared not imagine how far these conflicts would grow in the shadows.
(End of this chapter)