Huangming

Chapter 21 Selection of Concubines and Appointment of Titles; Palace Maids of Various Colors

After the imperial edict was read aloud in the Qianqing Palace and Zhu Youxiao agreed to the recommendation to ascend the throne, Zhu Youxiao could be said to be the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

All that's missing is the coronation ceremony.

At this moment, it would not be unreasonable for him to refer to himself as "朕" (the imperial "I"), and outsiders would not say that he was overstepping his bounds.

Ciqing Palace.

Duanbentang.

Zhu Youxiao held the "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty" in his hands and examined it carefully.

Before him stood Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites, dressed in the ceremonial robes for the Grand Sacrifice, the attire worn by the Minister of Rites when offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and at ancestral temples.

He wore a black outer robe with a red inner lining, a crown with twelve white jade beads hanging from it, a black upper garment and a crimson lower garment embroidered with the twelve symbols (sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, etc.), and a white gauze inner garment underneath, tied with a crimson sash. His entire outfit probably weighed several dozen kilograms.

"Your Highness, the coronation ceremony begins tomorrow. Please familiarize yourself with the procedures today."

The coronation ceremony is a very serious matter, and mistakes are not allowed.

Even if you are the emperor, it is the same.

They always rehearse in advance.

Zhu Youxiao put down the book in his hand and said to Sun Ruyou, "Minister Sun, I am all ears."

Sun Ruyou slowly recounted the procedures for the coronation ceremony.

Zhu Youxiao initially thought it was alright, but the more he listened, the more bewildered he became.

This is because the process is simply too complicated.

Zhu Youxiao was completely bewildered after hearing this.

Can his small frame withstand the high-intensity manipulation he'll face tomorrow?

"Do I have to do all of this myself?"

Sun Ruyou immediately understood the heir's meaning and said, "Some of these tasks can be handled by the Ministry of Rites."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "When the country is in trouble, even the funeral of my late father should be kept simple. The same goes for my enthronement ceremony. We must not spend extravagantly."

Sun Ruyou immediately said, "That is only natural."

So Zhu Youxiao became a puppet, rehearsing with the officials of the Ministry of Rites. It took more than an hour before Zhu Youxiao finally had some free time and was given a task.

You should be familiar with the contents of the memorial text.

Good guy.

Zhu Youxiao had spent a long time deciphering the few hundred words in Sun Ruyou's reply urging him to ascend the throne, but this eulogy of several thousand words was going to cost him his life.

No!

I need someone to teach me to read and write.

Zhu Youxiao, who had been a doctor in his previous life, would never allow himself to become semi-literate.

As for this candidate...
They must be completely trustworthy and able to be by your side at all times.

That makes sense; finding this person in the vast Forbidden City is no easy task.

I had dinner.

It's getting late.

Zhu Youxiao gazed out the window at the Forbidden City.

The moonlight, like silver, spilled across the eaves of Ciqing Palace, making the glazed tiles shimmer with a soft luster.

Since the death of Emperor Taichang, the chaos in the palace has long since ceased.

Unfortunately, this tranquility was only temporary.

Internal strife and factional infighting paralyzed decision-making, military defeats exacerbated financial bankruptcy, and widespread popular uprisings undermined the foundation of the regime.

Zhu Youxiao did not want to end up like his younger brother Zhu Youjian, who hanged himself on that crooked tree on Coal Hill.

It needs to change!
Just then, a palace servant came to announce the news.

"Your Highness, a noble lady from Huiluan Palace wishes to see you."

Consort Li?

Zhu Youxiao was stunned.

As his nominal foster mother, Zhu Youxiao did not visit her every day to pay his respects, but he had a eunuch do so on his behalf, which was not considered disrespectful.

Although Huiluan Palace was a cold palace, Zhu Youxiao ordered that all the items be given to Consort Li as usual, which could be considered a reward for her for being sensible.

It's already dark, and you still want to see me? Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "If that's the case, then please invite the concubine to Cining Palace."

As for Zhu Youxiao going to the Huiluan Palace?
Forget it.

Safety is important.

He managed to escape unscathed from the Qianqing Palace that day because he frightened Consort Li, and with Wang An by his side to assist him.

If that woman is foolish enough to detain him in the Huiluan Palace as a condition for his promotion to Empress, then Zhu Youxiao will have nowhere to cry.

Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony, and Consort Li wants to see him at this time, which leaves Zhu Youxiao no room for doubt.

This person has ambition, but her methods and abilities are like those of a village woman.

You can't reason with this kind of person using conventional logic.

"Xi Li is already outside the palace."

He came in person?

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Let her in."

Zhu Youxiao did not meet Li Xuanshi in Duanbentang, but chose to meet her in the west side hall of Ciqing Palace.

The west wing hall was a place of worship, and previously it housed the memorial tablet of Consort Wang, the birth mother of Zhu Changluo.

After Zhu Changluo ascended the throne, the memorial tablet of Consort Wang, the birth mother of Zhu Youxiao, was enshrined here.

When Consort Li entered the palace, she saw Zhu Youxiao with his back to her, and behind him, the memorial tablet of Consort Wang.

At this point, she no longer dared to underestimate the young heir apparent in front of her, so she gently changed the subject and said, "I have heard that the Crown Prince has been crying before the coffin in Qianqing Palace these past few days and has fainted several times. I implore the Crown Prince to take care of his health."

Zhu Youxiao turned around and saw Consort Li, dressed in mourning clothes, holding the hand of a little girl dressed in mourning clothes with pigtails.

“I saw my mother a few days ago, she was heartbroken and looked emaciated because of the Emperor’s passing. Now that I see her, her complexion has improved a little, and I am very pleased.”

Zhu Youxiao had no idea what Consort Li was up to.

But since he was going to act, he went along with Li Xuanshi.

“It’s rare that the Crown Prince still remembers me, this poor woman. Now that His Majesty has passed away, I, as the Crown Prince’s mother, don’t even have a title. It’s nothing for me to suffer a little grievance. If the Crown Prince is disgraced because of this, then it is my fault.”

Zhu Youxiao said, "The temple name and posthumous title of the late emperor are currently under discussion. Your status is so noble, how could the Ministry of Rites dare to disregard them?"

Does this count as a promise from the heir apparent?

Consort Li lightly bit her cherry lips, and a "川" character appeared on her smooth forehead. Paired with her mourning clothes, it added a touch of charm to her appearance.

"I wonder if you are the Empress Dowager?"

I had been praising her quick wit in my mind, but then she asked me this question.

A stupid woman is a stupid woman.

Zhu Youxiao shook his head and said, "You'll have to ask the Ministry of Rites about this."

Consort Li was getting a little anxious.

"Your Highness heard in the Wenhua Hall that all officials were subdued and that the Ministry of Rites dared not disobey your orders."

Zhu Youxiao immediately retorted: "When my late father was alive, did the officials not submit to him? Why did the Ministry of Rites dare to delay in obeying the imperial edict issued by my late father, which ordered my mother to be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort? I am not yet the supreme ruler. They may disobey the emperor's orders, let alone the crown prince's."

"Then the Crown Prince should urge him more."

This woman actually believed him.

Looks like he's really stupid.

Zhu Youxiao was completely relieved.

"Don't worry, Mother. I will definitely urge the Ministry of Rites. However, I can't really interfere with how the Ministry of Rites makes its decision."

Seeing that the Crown Prince was willing to help, Consort Li felt much relieved.

"It's good that the Crown Prince takes this matter to heart."

"Is this why Mother Consort came today?"

Consort Li immediately shook her head and said, "This matter needs to be asked later. I noticed that the Crown Prince lacks some clever palace maids to serve him, so I selected a few decent-looking ones from the palace to serve him."

Consort Li clapped her hands, and five palace maids walked into the hall.

All five palace maids were described as having beautiful appearances.

Among them are gentle and graceful like the older sister next door, shy and delicate like a young lady from a modest family, and even plump like a married woman.

How many people are to be chosen to serve?
This is an attempt to drain Zhu Youxiao's life essence!
Could Zhu Youxiao possibly want these five palace maids?

(End of this chapter)