Huangming

Chapter 57 The Emperor Returns to the Qianqing Palace

Liu Yiju was filled with a death wish and high spirits, determined to persuade, or even intimidate, the new emperor.

We entered Cining Palace with our heads held high and chests out.

However, when he stepped out of Cining Palace again, he was like a walking corpse, his eyes lifeless, as if he had lost his soul.

Han Kuang, Yang Lian, Zhou Jiamo, Zhu Guozuo, and others who were waiting outside the palace gates immediately surrounded him and asked, "Prime Minister, what's the result? Is His Majesty willing to halt the prison sentence?"

Liu Yiju remained unmoved.

Seeing this, Han Kuang panicked and immediately grabbed Liu Yizhu's shoulders and shook him hard twice.

"Lord Liu, say something!"

In Liu Yizhu's cloudy old eyes, a glimmer of light gradually gathered.

Looking at the anxious crowd, he said, "His Majesty's wise and decisive decree is impeccable, and we must not disobey his will."

Yang Lian frowned, while Han Kuang asked, "What did the Vice Minister say in the hall just now, and how did His Majesty respond?"

Liu Yizhu sighed deeply, as if he had aged ten years at that moment.

"I used the kneeling remonstrance of the ministers as a pretext to hope that Your Majesty would prioritize the affairs of the state. However, Your Majesty refuted this with ancestral rules and questioned me with loyalty and filial piety. What Your Majesty wants are ministers who are pragmatic, not ministers who engage in empty talk and factional strife."

"This"

Yang Lian opened his mouth and asked, "Isn't Your Majesty afraid of the uproar from public opinion?"

Is it a case of a newborn calf not being afraid of a tiger, or was it something that was prepared in advance?
Zhou Jiamo couldn't quite grasp the situation, but he knew that the new emperor was not to be underestimated.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard's operation was swift as the wind. By the time we received the news, all thirty-three people had been handcuffed and imprisoned. More than ten of them from the Six Ministries had their homes confiscated. His Majesty had planned this all along. I think we should wait and see."

Zhu Guozuo also sighed and said, "As subjects, it is inappropriate for us to kneel and remonstrate against the death of the late emperor during the mourning period. If we do so, how will we face the late emperor after our deaths?"

The ministers remained silent.

On the twentieth day after the passing of the late emperor, I miss him.

Facing the new emperor, Han Kuang, Yang Lian, and others missed Zhu Changluo terribly.

During Zhu Changluo's reign, almost all of their policies were able to pass. The emperor was either procreating in the palace or transforming into a human seal.

Only in this way can national affairs proceed smoothly.

Why doesn't Your Majesty learn from the actions of the late Emperor?

"no!"

A resolute look appeared in Han Kuang's eyes.

"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, we have retreated again and again, to the point where we have reached this situation. If we retreat any further, there is already a bottomless abyss behind us. We have nowhere left to retreat to!"

Han Kuang looked around at everyone and said sternly, "Today we will kneel and remonstrate outside Zuoshun Gate. If His Majesty does not agree to abolish the great prison, severely punish the three treacherous eunuchs Wei Chao, Wei Zhongxian, and Wang Tiqian, and dismiss Fang Congzhe, we will never give up!"

Yang Lian's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He was willing to die, so naturally he would wholeheartedly support him.

"How magnificent! How magnificent! With such a loyal minister as Your Majesty, how dare Your Majesty not repent and return from the wrong path?"

Liu Yiju sighed and said, "Kneeling and pleading with His Majesty is useless. What we are doing will only provoke conflict. Besides, tomorrow is the day the late Emperor will be sent to pay his respects. Are we going to use this to blackmail His Majesty?"

Liu Yiju looked at Han Kuang; he already knew how to gain the emperor's favor.

“As long as we can govern the country well, His Majesty will surely give us important positions, and His Majesty will also approve of our theories. Kneeling to remonstrate is too risky.”

snort!
Han Kuang snorted coldly, unconvinced.

"If Your Majesty values ​​filial piety, then grant our request. Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

Han Kuang was already determined.

As for governing the country well?
If the emperor is not allowed to listen to them, if the inner court is not purged, and if Fang Congzhe is not allowed to retire, how can the country achieve great order?

Zhu Guozuo was already somewhat regretting coming to Cining Palace with Han Kuang and the others.

You guys are crazy! Don't drag me into this!

His eyes darted around, and he said, "Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety—these are the ways of the sages. What we are pursuing is the way of the sages, or factional strife? If we cannot be completely loyal and filial, how can His Majesty trust our loyalty and righteousness?"

Zhu Guozuo's face was filled with sorrow as he said again, "As subjects, are we really going to place His Majesty in a position of filial impiety? If so, can we still call ourselves subjects of the Ming Dynasty?"

Han Kuang was about to say: "The way the ruler is, the way the subjects should be."

But in the end, he didn't say those words.

His face was contorted with rage. After hesitating for a long time, he said, "After the late emperor's funeral, we must kneel and remonstrate. There are treacherous officials running rampant in the court. If we do not do this, we cannot save our Great Ming Dynasty!"

His Majesty may be shameless, but his subjects dare not be.

Yang Lian felt aggrieved, but could only sigh deeply and say, "Although I did not kneel down to remonstrate immediately, the Censorate and the officials of the Six Ministries should impeach His Majesty and let him know that this is not how a country is governed!"

When the emperor becomes shameless, these self-proclaimed upright officials are completely powerless against him.

I feel nothing but frustration!
September 21st of the first year of the Taichang reign.

Amidst the shadow of factional strife.

The funeral ceremony for Emperor Taichang, Zhu Changluo, slowly began in the morning light.

The "Sending Off the Deceased Emperor" ceremony was the last grand sacrificial ceremony held by the new emperor and his officials before the coffin was officially moved to the mausoleum. It was meant to "send off the late emperor and bid farewell to his spirit."

This is a crucial link in the funeral rites, marking the end of the period of mourning and the beginning of the procession. Simultaneously, it is also a political symbol, as the new emperor, by presiding over the funeral procession, demonstrates his legitimacy in inheriting the throne.

Moreover, the participation of all officials strengthened their loyalty to the new emperor.

In the Qianqing Palace, before the coffin of the deceased emperor, a feast of three sacrificial animals was set up. The so-called three sacrificial animals refer to one each of ox, sheep and pig, symbolizing the three powers of heaven, earth and man.

Bronze ritual vessels such as gui, fu, bian, and dou were used to hold grains and wine; jade bi and gold books, symbolizing the succession of imperial power, were also placed among them.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in mourning attire and wearing a plain crown, led his officials, all dressed in plain clothes, in kneeling obeisance.

The three rites of first offering, second offering, and final offering are performed, with wine offered in turn.

At this time, outside the Qianqing Palace, the sound of weeping could not be stopped.

Some people were acting, while others genuinely missed Zhu Changluo.

The officials, especially those carrying impeachment memorials, wished Zhu Changluo would jump out of his dragon coffin on the spot.

Learn from that fortress sect and have the gatekeeper take back the power.

The officials wept uncontrollably, their voices hoarse from shouting.

This look of utter grief is not an act.

Don't you see that officials like Zhou Chaorui are already eating their daily meals in prison?

Zhu Youxiao had rehearsed the offering ceremony, so there were no unexpected incidents, and the three-offering ceremony was successfully completed.

Han Kuang, the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and concurrently Minister of Rites, had a somber expression, yet he was not allowed to preside over the ceremony. Holding the memorial text for the imperial tombs, he slowly read aloud:
"The first year of Weitaichang"

The reason for adding this ceremony to announce the mausoleum is that Zhu Changluo died suddenly and his mausoleum had not yet been selected. Now, the old mausoleum of Jingtai was chosen, and after some minor renovations, it was used as the Qing Mausoleum.

After the ceremony at the mausoleum, Zhu Youxiao recited the eulogy before the coffin of the deceased emperor.

The eulogy recounts Zhu Changluo's brief but significant achievements, such as abolishing mining taxes and appointing upright officials to legitimize his status.

Afterwards, paper money, dragon robes, carriages and horses were burned as funerary objects to symbolize offerings to the late emperor. A copy of the sacrificial text was burned to inform Heaven, while the original was archived at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to signify the completion of the ceremony.

Thus, the funeral rites finally came to an end.

The next day.

Yin hour three quarters.

It was still dark.

Outside the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City, the imperial procession and ceremonial guards were already prepared.
There were 12 dragon flags, 48 ​​pairs of banners, 16 pairs of golden gourds and axes, and one elephant chariot.

1.6 laborers on duty, responsible for carrying the coffin, ceremonial items, and laying yellow silk along the route, are already waiting in the Forbidden City.

In addition, 3000 members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and 7000 members of the Beijing Garrison escorted the hearse, maintained order, and deterred refugees along the way.

The Imperial Guards, armed with embroidered spring knives and crossbows, were responsible for guarding the imperial coffin.

Armored soldiers from the Beijing Garrison, armed with long spears and muskets, lined up on both sides of the hearse.

Why is it said that the emperor's funeral expenses were so high?
Those who participated in the ceremony received rewards according to the established rules.

Laborers: Each person will be rewarded with 1 tael of silver and 3 dou of rice;
Military Commander: Receive an additional month's salary and be provided with wine and meat;
Officials: bestowed upon him 10 bolts of white silk and 1 sheep.

After the funeral arrangements for the late emperor were streamlined, nearly half of the expenses were covered here.

The daily expenses for keeping the deceased emperor's coffin at the Qianqing Palace are enormous. The hasty departure was due to budget cuts; otherwise, the Ministry of Rites would not have allowed such a short period for keeping the coffin.

Before the coffin of the late Emperor Qianqing in the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao, dressed in sacrificial robes, led the imperial family and officials in performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony, burning incense to inform Heaven:

"May the spirit of our late father depart, and may he be blessed by the gods."

Afterwards, 64 Imperial Guards carried the coffin out of the Qianqing Gate and placed it on an elephant carriage, covering it with a bright yellow satin cover.

dong dong dong~
The bell at the Meridian Gate rang 108 times, drums beat at the nine gates of the capital, and the people stood in solemn silence with their doors closed.

Laborers propelled the enormous coffin as the spirit carriage toured the city.

The coffin of the deceased emperor started from Qianqing Palace, passed through the imperial road, exited through the Meridian Gate, passed through Daming Gate, Zhengyang Gate, Desheng Gate, and then arrived at Qingling Mausoleum in Changping.

The Grand Secretary and the Ministers of the Six Ministries led the way, with officials of the fifth rank and above following on foot in plain clothes, while those of the fifth rank and below knelt outside Desheng Gate to see them off.

All the officials wept bitterly; their cries were so mournful that they brought tears to the eyes of those who heard them and saddened those who witnessed them.

Zhu Youxiao stopped at Desheng Gate and did not follow, but instead set up an altar there to perform another sacrifice.

When it comes to acting skills, Zhu Youxiao was second to none. During the sacrificial ceremony, he cried loudly and fainted several times. Everyone who witnessed the ceremony praised the new emperor as a filial son.

After the coffin of the deceased emperor passed through Desheng Gate, sacrifices were required along the route.

Five altars were set up at Qinghe, Shahe, Nankou, Juyongguan, and Tianshoushan, with the chief officiant being Fang Congzhe, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Cheng; Sun Ruyou, the Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion and Minister of Rites; Zhu Changhao, the Prince of Rui; and Zhang Weixian, the Duke of Ying.

After the sacrificial ceremony at Deshengmen was completed, Zhu Youxiao returned to Beijing to burn incense at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and recited the "Sacrificial Prayer to the Imperial Ancestral Temple": "My late father ascended to heaven and descended to earth, entrusting his humble self with this task. How dare I not be diligent and conscientious?"

He then officially issued an edict granting a general amnesty, pardoning all except the ten heinous crimes, and reducing national taxes by 30%.

At the same time, it was announced that the reign title would be changed to Tianqi on the first day of the following year.

Thus, the departure ceremony in the Forbidden City was finally completed.

The palace staff thoroughly cleaned up the Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Youxiao officially moved from the Ciqing Palace, where the crown prince lived, to the Qianqing Palace, where the emperor lived.

However, with the funeral of the late emperor over, a storm was brewing in the capital, and it had reached a point where it could not be contained!
(End of this chapter)