The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 41 Thirty-One Years

Dark clouds pressed down, the sky was gloomy and not a ray of light could penetrate, giving the feeling that a storm was brewing.

The magnificent imperial city appeared even more majestic and imposing, like a mountain standing still, while the Fengtian Hall with its high-pitched eaves remained as calm as a rock.

The carriage of Princess Lin'an's residence stopped in front of the palace gate. Several people came out from the palace gate carrying the palanquin. "His Majesty takes pity on the young master's young age and has specially ordered us to carry the young master into the palace."

"Your son kowtows to thank Your Majesty!"

Li Qi and Princess Lin'an helped Li Xianmu onto the carriage, one on each side.

The family of three disappeared into the deep archway of the city gate.

The group bypassed the outer three halls and headed towards the emperor's residence in the inner palace.

Princess Lin'an was already finding it difficult to control herself as she walked.

For Lin'an, Zhu Yuanzhang was like a towering tree, a pillar supporting the sky. As long as her father was there, she would never worry about anything unexpected happening.

It is often said that a woman's reliance after marriage is her husband, but for the imperial family, the emperor is her reliance.

But now, it seems that her support is really about to collapse.

She looked helplessly at her husband, her eyes slightly red, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say, only feeling deep sorrow.

Li Qi gripped her hand tightly and opened his mouth slightly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

It is now the thirty-first year of the Hongwu reign. The emperor's health is deteriorating, and he no longer attends court. Instead, the grandson of the emperor oversees the country. Of course, the emperor still issues orders from within the palace, such as the investigation into the Hu-Lan traitorous faction, which is in full swing, and the officials dare not slack off.

Li Qi knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was about to die. As the cycle of time turned to the thirty-first year of Hongwu, he felt as if each day was an eternity. Only now, seeing the somber and stagnant atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace, did he finally feel a sense of reality.

Zhu Yuanzhang is really about to die!
The family of three entered the Qianqing Palace, where a strong smell of medicine hit them, making their eyes sting.

What Li Qi saw were hanging curtains with countless prayer texts written on them, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Turning a corner through an inner door, Zhu Yuanzhang, pale-faced, was half-lying on his bed. Even in his illness, he could not hide his domineering nature, holding a memorial in his hand and explaining it to Zhu Yunwen, who was attending to him.

Only by getting closer can you see that Zhu Yuanzhang's cheeks were so thin that they were slightly sunken.

"Grandpa Huang."

After Li Qi and the other two paid their respects, they also greeted the Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen. Li Xianmu then went straight to the Emperor.

Among the current imperial family, Li Xianmu is a rather special figure, as he received exceptional favor from Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Little Mu'er, have you been studying hard lately?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, and the aura of dominance he once possessed vanished, making him appear like an ordinary old man.

"Replying to Your Majesty, I have been studying diligently, and my father has already agreed to let me participate in the provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture two years from now."

Upon hearing this, the people in the hall all wore expressions of taking it for granted.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly and said, "Good, when you take the palace examination, your imperial grandfather will personally appoint you as the top scholar."

Only Zhu Yunwen's lips twitched. His cousin was truly a prodigy. He would only be nine years old in two years. To pass the provincial examination at nine and the imperial examination at ten, and if he were to become the top scholar, would be unprecedented and unparalleled in the Ming Dynasty.

"Lin'an, Yunwen, take Mu'er to the outer room first. We have something we want to say to Li Qi alone."

After the three of them went to the outer room, Zhu Yuanzhang put away his smile, and his domineering aura returned to him.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was calm. "Li Qi, do you know why I want to speak with you alone?"

Tears welled up in Li Qi's eyes almost instantly. He knelt on the ground and whispered, "Please take care of yourself, Father. If anything happens to you, what will become of the world, the Ming Dynasty, and my family?"

"There are many smart people in the Ming Dynasty, and among them, you are one of the smartest. Smart people have many ideas and are not easy to manage."

My body is truly failing me this time. In my daze, I even saw the day when the dragon ascended to heaven.

Before I die, while I still have some strength left, I'll meet with all the ministers to see who is loyal and who is treacherous, and who I can entrust with the great cause.

Tell me, who else do you think could threaten our Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was indifferent, but Li Qi felt a cold sweat pour down his back. "Your Majesty, I am foolish and do not know who is loyal and who is treacherous in the court. I only know some old sayings."

Our dynasty abolished the position of Chancellor and established the Five Offices, Six Ministries, Censorate, Office of Transmission, and Court of Judicial Review to manage the affairs of the realm. The Nine Ministers were not ranked, and none of them could submit to one another. Therefore, no one dared to suppress the other in important matters, and no one could keep secret any plots of rebellion. All matters were under Your Majesty's control, which was very secure.

Therefore, as long as all the intelligent people in the world are guided into the civil service through the imperial examination, and then an order is issued prohibiting civil officials from contacting the army, and instead the emperor's close ministers and attendants are in charge of the army, then with the emperor's word, even a common soldier can be promoted to a duke or marquis, and with the emperor's decree, even a duke or marquis can be killed by a thousand blades.

Your Majesty, residing in the central palace, observes the affairs of the realm, and all ministers obediently submit to you, with no one wielding power or deceiving the sovereign. Thus, our Great Ming Dynasty can enjoy eternal peace and stability.

After saying this, Li Qi could clearly feel that Zhu Yuanzhang's sharp, piercing gaze on him had disappeared.

"What you said is very good; it seems you have thought about it carefully."

We appreciate your respect, but you are too respectful. Eight years ago, we were able to extend our favor to you, so what are you afraid of now?

If we suspect someone of rebellion, we would never suspect you.

If you can rebel, then our Ming Dynasty would have perished a thousand times over.

This was Zhu Yuanzhang's honest opinion. In the eight years since Li Qi returned to the capital from Jiangpu, his only achievement was his outstanding reputation among scholars, but he did not have any real power and remained a Grand Secretary of the fifth rank.

The nobles of Huaixi have completely lost power in the court, and Li Qi is still the leader of the northerners. Southerners have the upper hand among the officials and scholars in the court. If anyone still doubts Li Qi, then they are truly insane.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi slowly relaxed. He never expected that Zhu Yuanzhang would return to normal before his death, no longer doubting everything and able to think clearly.

Given the Ming Dynasty's system, after eliminating Lan Yu and other nobles, Li Qi had no chance of an outsider usurping the throne.

In the central court, civil officials held great power, and without a prime minister to oversee everything, it was impossible for a powerful minister with absolute authority to emerge.

As for a mutiny? The princes enfeoffed by the Ming Dynasty would probably dream of it and simply join forces to quell the rebellion.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, there was no longer any opportunity for outsiders to seize power. All the nobles were natural royalists. Powerful ministers could do whatever they wanted, but usurping the throne was impossible.

Some people argue that Ming Dynasty emperors died in many different ways, using this as evidence that the emperors were sidelined by civil officials.

But if we ask ourselves honestly, even if it really was a civil official who did it, in a dynasty that has been established for more than two hundred years, the ministers can only do it in secret. When a new emperor comes to power, he can still kill whoever he wants. Doesn't this prove the stability of the imperial power?
If any other dynasty had been established for two hundred years, powerful ministers and eunuchs would have already asked, "Why has Your Majesty rebelled?" Then they would have punched the emperor three times, poisoned the emperor, installed a puppet emperor, and then allowed the emperor to "wear a sword and shoes in the palace, enter the court without bowing, and be granted the authority to oversee all affairs of state and command all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital." In the end, they would have said, "You have really caused me great suffering!"
(End of this chapter)