The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 44 The Last Night

Princess Lin'an's residence was not far from the capital. After he returned home, he had just sat down and hadn't even had a meal when someone knocked on the gate.

It should be noted that the curfew in the Ming Dynasty started at 8 p.m., and the streets were almost deserted shortly before the curfew began.

Therefore, anyone who comes to the door at this time must have something important to say. Sure enough, when the door was opened, it was an envoy from the palace. His Majesty summoned the ministers to the palace, while the other palace envoys had already gone elsewhere.

When Li Qi and Princess Lin'an exchanged a glance, they immediately knew that something big had happened in the palace and that the emperor was probably not going to make it.

Princess Lin'an shed tears, but still choked back sobs as she draped a crown over Li Qi's shoulders, saying, "Father... Prince Consort, may you return safely soon."

Li Qi knew he couldn't empathize with Lin'an. At this moment, his strongest emotion was excitement, not sadness, as if a mountain had been lifted from his head.

When Li Qi entered the palace, his son-in-law Mei Yin also happened to enter, and the two walked side by side.

Night had fallen, and lanterns were lit throughout the palace to pray for the emperor's well-being, especially tonight. The palace was teeming with people, with eunuchs and palace maids constantly passing by.

Lanterns, draped in festive red, were lit under the eaves of the palace buildings throughout the gardens. From a distance, they appeared as patches of red, with candlelight shining through them. The sky was pitch black, devoid of stars and moon, and it seemed as if only those patches of red could be seen in the world.

The sky was black, with a palace seemingly floating in the air in the middle, illuminated by a faint light. Below were bright red lanterns. Almost everyone who saw this scene couldn't help but shiver. It was a spring or summer day, with a warm and gentle breeze, yet it was filled with an eerie and chilling atmosphere.

One by one, the high-ranking officials of the court entered the Qianqing Palace and stood quietly under the prayer flags. Acquaintances exchanged glances, but almost everyone's heart was in the inner hall just a door away.

This was an agonizing ordeal that felt like an eternity. Li Qi even began counting his breaths, down to how many breaths per second. Grandson Zhu Yunwen emerged from the inner palace and said softly, "My lords, Your Majesty the Emperor wants you to come in."

Everyone was startled and quietly followed the Crown Prince into the hall. The hall was brightly lit by candlelight. Li Qi glanced around and saw that everyone's eyes were already filled with tears. He also lowered his head and let his own eyes well up with tears.

"Long live the Emperor! May he be well!"

Everyone knelt on the ground, heads bowed, not daring to look at the emperor on his sickbed.

That voice, which had not been heard for a long time, resounded in everyone's ears: "Why have I summoned you all to the palace tonight? You are all the smartest people in our Great Ming Dynasty, so you can probably guess that I am really not going to make it this time. Tomorrow I will return to the heavens and never see the world again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qi and the other officials kowtowed heavily, and a sob echoed in the hall, "May the Emperor bless us and we be able to turn the tide."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not believe that his death would sadden these ministers, especially the civil officials. However, since things had come to this point, he did not expose him. He said in a hoarse voice, "Fortunately, Heaven has blessed me so that I am not in a daze before my death and can see you all today."

My will has been prepared. You are all important ministers of the dynasty. I will read it to you today, and to all the ministers tomorrow after I pass away.

Li Qi, you come and deliver the imperial decree.

Li Qi was a Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, so it was appropriate for him to deliver the imperial edict.

Li Qi rose and took the imperial edict from the chief eunuch. His heart was filled with complex emotions. He never imagined that one day he would be able to personally participate in Zhu Yuanzhang's first succession to the throne. After Zhu Di's successful pacification of the country, he was even able to participate in the second succession to the throne in the thirty-fifth year of Hongwu.

"I have received the Mandate of Heaven for thirty-one years, and have been filled with anxiety and worry, working diligently day and night to benefit the people. However, I rose from humble beginnings and lack the broad knowledge of the ancients, and my ability to distinguish right from wrong is far-reaching. Now that I understand the natural order of all things, what need is there for sorrow? My grandson, Yunwen, is benevolent, wise, filial, and fraternal, and the people are devoted to him. He is fit to ascend the throne. All civil and military officials, both inside and outside the capital, shall work together to assist in governing and to bring peace to my people. No gold or jade shall be used in the funeral and sacrificial rites. The Xiaoling Mausoleum shall remain as it is, without alteration. All subjects of the realm shall mourn for three days, after which all shall remove their mourning clothes and may marry without interruption. Princes shall remain in their respective kingdoms and not come to the capital. All those not mentioned in this decree shall be governed accordingly."

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the officials shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sat up a little more, his voice not loud but carrying an indescribable majesty, "I know that some of you have been hoping for my death, and I also know that countless officials throughout the land think I am harsh. Now I have chosen a benevolent ruler for you, Yunwen, who is kind, filial, loves the people, and is close to scholars. He will surely be able to revitalize the world and rebuild the prosperous reigns of the Zhenguan and Kaiyuan eras." The ministers kowtowed again. Who dared to respond to such scathing words?

Zhu Yuanzhang then said, “In my life, I have killed countless corrupt officials and countless arrogant and unruly generals, but you have all survived to the end. This is my trust in you.”

Guo Ying and Geng Bingwen were both veterans of the founding of the nation. They were always loyal, honest and upright, and served us for more than forty years. They were always careful and cautious. We showed them favor, and they became even more humble. That's why Li Shanchang and Lan Yu died, and Guo Ying and Geng Bingwen became the regents.

Chen Ying was honest and upright since taking office, never embezzling or engaging in corruption, and was fair in his dealings. As a result, Yang Jing and others died, while he was able to take charge of the Ministry of Justice for seven years.

Li Qi, we have many sons-in-law, but few are as sincere and cautious as him. Every month he reports to us what he has seen and heard and reflects on his own actions. People can pretend for a day or two, but it is difficult to keep it up and deceive the wise. Therefore, we trust him more than others.

We entrust you all to the Crown Prince, and earnestly hope that you, as ruler and minister, will be of one mind, so that the Ming Dynasty may prosper and last for ten thousand generations.

Guo Ying, Geng Bingwen, Chen Ying, Li Qi, and others who had been specifically praised by Zhu Yuanzhang had already kowtowed on the ground, weeping deeply in gratitude.

……

Do people speak good words when they are about to die?

As Li Qi walked out of the Qianqing Palace, this sentence suddenly flashed into his mind, but he quickly put it out of his mind.

If it were said by an emperor who grew up in the inner palace, he would truly believe it.

But the one lying on the sickbed was Zhu Yuanzhang, the one who rose from a beggar to the supreme position!

Beneath his throne lay blood and bones.

His mental fortitude far surpasses anyone's imagination; how could mere death possibly shake his resolve? Tonight's events are nothing more than a monarch's tactic to win over his subjects.

However, even the greatest figures cannot escape life and death.

Tonight is the ninth day of the intercalary fifth month of the thirty-first year of the Hongwu reign.

This was his last night.

Before the sun sets tomorrow, there will be no more Hongwu Emperor in this world!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the past, the Song dynasty's governance was lax, and the Liao and Yuan dynasties, taking advantage of the chaos, wreaked havoc on the Central Plains, arousing the indignation of both gods and men. Only our Great Ancestor, rising from humble origins, eliminated the treacherous and wicked, restoring the lost order. In twelve years, he established a great dynasty, bringing peace and tranquility to the land, eradicating all filth and barbarity. For the Central Plains had long been subject to the control of small barbarian tribes on its borders, but none could match the greatness and achievement of the Great Ancestor in expelling and restoring order. —From "Inscription at the Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty's Great Ancestor"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a complex man. He was both wise and ruthless, intelligent and selfish. There will always be those who criticize his obvious flaws, but no one can ignore his unparalleled achievements. He restored the Han people's rule and brought peace and tranquility back to the world. All the criticism stems from people's higher expectations of him. Yet, he was once just a beggar and a refugee. He emerged from the flames of war with divine gifts and then reigned supreme over the empire for thirty-one years. History will not forget him.

Zhu Yuanzhang, a commoner from Huaiyou! —From "Five Hundred Years of the Ming Dynasty"

(End of this chapter)