Huangming

Chapter 110 Admonitions at Imperial Lectures, and Pleasure in Bedchamber

The next day.

Before dawn, Zhu Youxiao got up and, with the help of palace maids and eunuchs, dressed in his imperial robes and washed up.

Afterwards, Zhu Youxiao had breakfast, reviewed several urgent memorials, and then went to the Wenhua Hall for a lecture on the classics.

At this moment, the court officials stood in the Wenhua Hall.

The speakers were still several Grand Secretaries from the Cabinet.

Fang Congzhe, Liu Yizhu, Zhu Guozuo.

The lecturers were Yuan Keli and Hong Chengchou, who was promoted by the emperor.

Emperor Zhu Youxiao sat on his throne in the Wenhua Hall, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, finally settling on Cong Zhe, the official in charge of the daily lecture.

He frowned slightly, feeling a little puzzled. According to custom, today he should continue explaining "Zhenguan Zhengyao" (Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era), but Fang Congzhe was holding an unfamiliar book.

Fang Congzhe noticed the emperor's gaze, bowed respectfully, and then unfolded the scroll in his hand. His voice was steady and solemn: "Your Majesty, today I have dared to change the chapters for the lectures. I have specially selected a section from the 'Inner Rules' of the Book of Rites to clarify the great principles of human relations."

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Inner Rules"?
This chapter is dedicated to the etiquette of women in the inner chambers and the way of husband and wife.

As a seasoned veteran, Zhu Youxiao made a point of checking the classics several times during his reading.

After all, which man isn't a little lustful?

But sensing the profound meaning behind the sudden change in the lecture text, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Prime Minister, I remember that today we were supposed to discuss the story of Wei Zheng's remonstrance in the 'Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era.' Why has it been changed so suddenly?"

Fang Congzhe, with a solemn expression, cupped his hands and replied, “Your Majesty is wise. While the ‘Essentials of Governance’ is indeed the standard for governing the country, the ‘Inner Rules’ is also the foundation for self-cultivation and family management. I have heard that ‘those who wish to govern their country must first manage their families,’ so I humbly request Your Majesty to consider this text.”

After saying that, he paused deliberately, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Wei Chao, the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial who was standing to the side.

Wei Chao immediately understood and stepped forward half a step, whispering, "Your Majesty, what Grand Secretary Fang said is absolutely right. Yesterday, Consort Li also mentioned... Your Majesty is in the prime of life and should learn these principles of ethics and morality."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk.

Yesterday, he sent Wei Chao to inform Consort Li to move to another palace. It's likely that Wei Chao went to ask for her opinion. Considering the unusual situation at the current lecture, he already understands seven or eight parts of the story.

My buddy is only fifteen and he's still thinking about conserving his energy. You guys really can't stand to see others doing well.

Do they not stop until those women have drained me dry?
The young emperor's ears burned slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "In that case, Grand Secretary, please continue."

Seeing that the emperor did not reject them or punish them, Fang Congzhe and Wei Chao both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cough cough~"

Fang Congzhe cleared his throat and began to interpret the text sentence by sentence: "Etiquette begins with the careful conduct of husband and wife..."

His voice echoed in the hall, and he emphasized the phrase "the relationship between men and women is a fundamental human obligation" when he spoke of it.

The Hanlin Academy officials serving at the corner of the hall all lowered their heads, even their breathing became lighter.

Many of these people clearly enjoy patronizing prostitutes for pleasure, and who knows how perverse their behavior is behind the scenes.

However, in public, they act more upright than anyone else. When listening to classics about human relations, they would bow their heads and pretend to be respectful, their faces turning redder than the last.

This is utterly hypocritical!

Zhu Youxiao stared at the words "Concubines should be ordered in order and taught virtues" on the page, and suddenly chuckled: "Today, the Grand Secretary is like the head of the Imperial Household Department."

Upon hearing this, Fang Congzhe broke out in a cold sweat and was about to apologize when the emperor waved his hand, saying, "I know your good intentions. However..."

Zhu Youxiao closed his book, his gaze sweeping intently over the crowd, and said, "Although I am young, I am not made of wood or stone. How could I not understand matters between men and women?"

joke!

He must have had countless affairs with women in his past life!

hmm~
The kind on a computer.

What FC? What's with all this talk about how hot it is there?

And what's with this authentic notebook?
He's tired of seeing it.

Do these people still think they haven't figured things out yet?
Don't you even understand matters between men and women?

Isn't this an insult?
Fang Congzhe immediately stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, matters between men and women are a fundamental principle! Confucius said, ‘Food and sex are human nature!’ Your Majesty need not be overly resistant.”

Upon seeing this, Liu Yiju immediately stepped forward, stroked his beard, and said gently, “Your Majesty, the sage said, ‘Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants.’ The Ministry of Rites is currently preparing for the selection of imperial concubines. If Your Majesty becomes too reserved and neglects your relatives, it may not be a blessing for the ancestral temple and the state.”

He deliberately lowered his voice, which carried a hint of elder's kindness.

"Your Majesty is naturally intelligent, but the etiquette of the inner chambers also needs to be practiced and understood. For example... cough cough, for example, the 'Inner Rules' says 'to sweeten with dates, chestnuts, maltose and honey,' which not only refers to the virtues of women, but also implicitly conforms to the principle of yin and yang harmony."

When scholars start driving, they can drive quite fast.

Zhu Youxiao could only blush and say, "How could I not understand matters of human relations? This is not a matter of modesty; how could I deceive my beloved ministers?"

However.
The emperor's words were not believed by anyone.

Zhu Guozuo stroked his beard and echoed, a mischievous glint in his eyes: "This old minister dares to suggest that Your Majesty, if you are already 'learned throughout the ages,' why not choose a day to summon the palace maids of the Imperial Bedchamber to test your knowledge?"

He lowered his voice and said meaningfully, "When the late emperor was alive, he had already given birth to an imperial heir at the age of eighteen."

Zhu Youxiao was really starting to lose his composure.

He could only say in a deep voice, "Let's not discuss this matter today, let's talk about state affairs!"

Zhu Youxiao was feeling somewhat exhausted.

When the ministers saw the emperor in such a state, it confirmed what he had just said: he was just putting on a brave face.

Everyone was trying not to laugh.

Only then did Fang Congzhe, Liu Yizhu, and the others discern the appearance of a young man in the emperor.

The previous emperor was far too mature for his age.

Looking at the expressions of these officials, Zhu Youxiao knew in his heart that if he did not refute the rumors today, he didn't know how the outside world would spread the word about him. At that time, he would really be unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River!

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

The sutra lecture was conducted in a very peculiar atmosphere.

Time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly.

It finally came to an end, much to Zhu Youxiao's delight.

Zhu Youxiao didn't want to stay in the Wenhua Hall for even a second longer!
The emperor arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

After entering the Qianqing Palace and then the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao summoned Wei Chao.

"Wei Dynasty, you colluded with foreign officials, what is your crime?"

The emperor's rebuke startled Wei Chao, who immediately knelt down.

"I am innocent."

"Injustice?"

Zhu Youxiao sneered and said, "If you are innocent, how would you explain what happened in the Wenhua Hall today?"

This eunuch is definitely a bit mentally unstable.

You can advise the emperor to be more intimate with women, but why tell his ministers?

Even cooperating with Fang Congzhe and his group in the Wenhua Hall?
Whose servant are you anyway?

Wei Chao felt cold sweat pour down his back, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared on his forehead.

He said somewhat fearfully, "This servant, this servant meant well and had no such intention at all. Please, Your Majesty, understand."

"Hmph!" Zhu Youxiao snorted and said, "I only spared the Embroidered Uniform Guard from skinning you alive because you're not inherently bad!"

If the eunuchs and officials are in cahoots, the emperor could very well become a puppet.

Today, he had a small taste of what it was like to be the Wanli Emperor.

Back then, Emperor Wanli was not only younger than him, but he also had Empress Dowager Li and Feng Bao in the palace, and Zhang Juzheng outside the palace.
It's no wonder his temperament was so twisted, to the point that he could even refuse to attend court for decades.

He had only experienced this feeling for a moment, and he felt frustrated.

Moreover, Emperor Wanli had to experience more than ten years of this kind of repressed feeling than he did.

"This servant knows her crime, this servant will never dare to do it again!"

The Wei Dynasty was truly panicked.

Now that he understands the cause and effect, he is even more afraid.

How could he contact foreign officials without permission?

Bang bang bang~
Wei Chao was so remorseful that he kept slapping himself until his cheeks turned red and bled.

"enough!"

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "There's no need to play the victim in front of me, Wei Chao. If you want to serve me for a long time, you need to improve your skills. I can forgive you once or twice because of your merits, but I cannot continue to forgive you. Do you understand?"

bang bang bang~
Wei Chao kowtowed repeatedly, until his forehead bled.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for sparing my life. In the future, this servant will reflect on myself and serve Your Majesty well, sharing Your Majesty's burdens."

Hey ~
fool.

But there are advantages to being a fool. If the people around you are too smart, you'll have to scheme against each other every day, which can be quite tiring.

"But must Consort Li come and persuade me?"

Wei Chao nodded somewhat pitifully.

"Tell her she doesn't need to come. It's just premarital education, isn't it? I want to see what tricks the palace has up its sleeve!"

Wei Chao dared not reply and could only send Li Yongzhen to summon the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department.

"I heard you selected eight palace maids to serve me in my bedchamber? Bring them all up."

The atmosphere in the East Warm Pavilion was rather suffocating. The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department kowtowed heavily and immediately turned to leave. Not long after, eight palace maids of different appearances entered the East Warm Pavilion.

These eight palace maids who served as bedchamber attendants caught Zhu Youxiao's eye.

Zhu Youxiao had their names on the register and knew their situation.

The leading palace maid was tall and slender, with skin as white as snow and a cool, aloof look, like a fairy in a painting.

She was once a female official in the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau. Because of her knowledge of poetry and literature, she was selected to serve in the Imperial Bedchamber. She exuded a scholarly air in every gesture, but the beauty mark at the corner of her eye added a touch of charm.

The second palace maid was plump and radiant, with skin like solidified cream. Her chest was magnificent, like a snow-capped mountain rising and falling. With the slightest movement, it would ripple like snow waves. However, when she walked, she was as delicate as a willow swaying in the wind, which was quite a contrast.

She was originally the head chef of the imperial kitchen, and she was an expert at making delicious cheese. Her slender fingers were sweet and fragrant, and she always had a gentle smile on her lips.

The third palace maid was exceptionally beautiful, with a slender figure, sculpted shoulders, and a graceful waist.

She was originally an embroiderer in the needlework bureau. Her slender fingers could embroider double-sided patterns in different colors, and when her eyes moved, they were as captivating as spring water.

Next, the fourth one.
The fifth one.
The eighth one.
These eight palace maids were truly all good in their own way.

Zhu Youxiao finished reading it and was very moved.

These eunuchs really know how to choose people.

Zhu Youxiao now understands why the emperors of the Ming Dynasty generally did not live long.

With the eunuchs constantly finding beautiful women for you, and you, as the emperor, not only having to handle state affairs, but also constantly losing your vital essence every day, how can you expect to live a long life?
Hey ~
You need to be moderate!

Emperor Jiajing was able to live to over sixty years old even after consuming elixirs of immortality, which Zhu Youxiao suspected was largely due to his abstinence from women.

Clearly, lust is a knife to the head, far more harmful than anything like silver or mercury.

The eight palace maids in charge of the emperor's bedchamber all kept their heads down, not daring to look up and confront the emperor directly.

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department smiled obsequiously and said, “Your Majesty, these eight women are all from respectable families. They have been jointly examined and approved by the female officials of the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau and the imperial physicians. They are all skilled in basic embroidery or medicinal cuisine, and can prepare contraceptive soups. They are also familiar with the rules for serving the emperor in the Inner Rules. I urge Your Majesty to consider them!”

Zhu Youxiao already knew about these palace maids who served as bedchamber attendants.

They were all over twenty-five years old, and were palace maids with calm and quiet personalities.

of course
The eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department went to great lengths to win his favor.

Beautiful women were selected, but as palace maids in charge of the emperor's bedchamber, beauty is not necessarily a good thing.

They only needed to teach the emperor about matters of love and sex; if the emperor became obsessed with these things, it would be disastrous.

"You all have good intentions."

Zhu Youxiao said, "Keep the first palace maid here, and take the rest back for now."

The palace maid who had come from the Shangyi Bureau trembled and bit her lip, clearly extremely nervous.

You should know that being a palace maid in charge of the bedchamber is not a good thing.

If they are chosen as empress or concubines in the future, their situation will be very awkward.

If you're unlucky enough to encounter a jealous person, like Consort Zheng, then you're doomed.

At that time, Emperor Shenzong's bedchamber maids were basically all killed by her to silence them.

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department left with the other seven palace maids in charge of the emperor's bedchamber, and Wei Chao also secretly slipped away, giving the emperor and the palace maids some time alone.

For a moment, only the two of them remained in the East Warm Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the kneeling palace maid and softly called out, "Get up."

The palace maid rose shakily, still keeping her head down.

"What's your name?"

The register only records that this palace maid was surnamed Zhao.

Upon hearing this, the palace maid's fingertips curled slightly on her skirt, her throat bobbed softly, and she replied in a very soft voice, "Your Majesty... this servant's name is Zhao Qingyue."

The voice was like the cracking of ice in a stream in early spring, clear and cool with a slight tremor, the last note almost melting into the sandalwood fragrance in the hall.

Zhu Youxiao rose from his throne and slowly walked towards her.

Until the two were less than half a step apart.

"look up."

Zhu Youxiao reached out and hooked the chin of the aloof palace maid with his finger.

The palace maid's slender neck slowly rose like a startled crane, revealing the pale blue veins on the side of her neck.

As she parted her lips slightly, Zhu Youxiao noticed a small bite mark on her lower lip: "Your Majesty...Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant...this servant..."

Zhu Youxiao looked at his own thin body, and then at Zhao Qingyue's voluptuous figure.

Tonight, it seems we'll have to 'risk big gains'.

PS:

The ninth day of the month.

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(End of this chapter)