Huangming

Chapter 99: The Final Verdict, Imperial Consort Title Conferred

Even at midday, there was no sunlight.

The sun hid behind the clouds, and fine snowflakes fell softly from the gray sky.

Little by little, it slowly covered the icy earth with a thin layer of snow.

The sky, clouds, mountains, and water are all white.

The frigid weather made the eunuchs and guards on duty at the Qianqing Palace shiver.

However, the East Warm Pavilion was warm as spring, and Zhu Youxiao did not need to wear extra thick clothes while reviewing memorials inside.

As for the reason, one can get a glimpse from the name of Dongnuange (East Warm Pavilion).

The walls of the Qianqing Palace are thick, and some walls have internal layers (such as "fire walls") to reduce heat loss.

The windows have double wooden frames covered with paper, allowing light to pass through while also preventing wind damage.

Furthermore, the East Warm Pavilion has a flue in the ground that connects to the stove outside the hall. After burning charcoal or coal, the heat is transferred through the flue to heat the ground, making the room warm and even.

This facility is somewhat similar to modern "underfloor heating," but the fuel needs to be added manually and is managed by eunuchs.

To enhance insulation, thick cotton or felt curtains are hung at the entrance of the East Warm Pavilion to prevent cold air from entering.

Some areas are also equipped with screens to reduce heat loss from the space.

To ensure a continuous supply of charcoal for the East Warm Pavilion, the palace established a special office called the "Charcoal Supply Office," which was previously the place where Wei Zhongxian worked. This office was responsible for supplying charcoal and coal, and managing facilities such as braziers and heated floors.

Even at night, eunuchs were on duty to ensure the safety of the fire source and to add fuel.

To ensure the comfort of an emperor, hundreds of people were assigned to keep him warm, just for that alone.

Being an emperor in the Ming Dynasty was truly a simple, unpretentious, and rather dull experience.

On the throne, a mountain of memorials lay piled up. Zhu Youxiao held his brush lightly and slowly reviewed the memorials.

Previously, he needed to practice calligraphy with Zhang Yun'er, but now that step has been skipped.

He could review tens of thousands of words of memorials in a single day; only later-generation online writers could rival his misery.

He reviewed memorials day and night, and also practiced calligraphy in the process, so the emperor's calligraphy gradually improved.

"Huh~"

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and said to the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial who were serving below him, "Summon Sun Ruyou for questioning."

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs immediately left the East Warm Pavilion and headed towards the Wenyuan Pavilion.

When Emperor Zhu Youxiao reviewed memorials, he often sought advice from the emperor. At least one person from each of the Six Ministries was stationed in the Qianqing Palace to await the emperor's questions.

Censors from the Censorate, academicians from the Hanlin Academy, and officials from the Six Ministries were also required to remain here.

For ordinary matters, the emperor could simply ask them, but for certain questions, he still needed to summon the cabinet ministers for a proper discussion.

soon.

Sun Ruyou then went to the East Warm Pavilion.

"Your subject, Sun Ruyou, Minister of Rites, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "I am well, Minister Sun, there is no need for such formalities."

The eunuchs in the hall had brought over a small stool early on, but Sun Ruyou did not sit down directly. Instead, he asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty has summoned me for?"

Zhu Changluo's posthumous title and temple name have already been decided.

His posthumous title was: Emperor Chongtian Qidao Yingrui Gongchun Xianwen Jingwu Yuanren Yixiao Yi'an.

His temple name remained Guangzong.

In fact, Zhu Youxiao also wanted to give Zhu Changluo an Emperor Xizong.

He doesn't want that lousy temple name!
However, Emperor Xizong lived a longer life. Zhu Changluo died less than a month after ascending the throne, and Emperor Xizong's posthumous title was forcibly changed, which was rather unseemly.

I'm afraid the court officials will have objections then.

Although Zhu Youxiao was not afraid of the court officials' resistance, he had already gone too far in bestowing a posthumous title upon the emperor, so he should not push his luck.

He still needed some officials to do things for him.

Moreover, one's reputation also needs some management.

Therefore, he also took a step back and, at the request of the Donglin Party members, adopted the temple name Guangzong.

However, while Han Kuang was alive, the Donglin Party members demanded that the late emperor be given the posthumous title of Emperor Guangzong Zhen, in order to suppress their political enemies and gain legitimacy.

The current Guangzong Yi'an Emperor is already a result of Zhu Youxiao's favoritism towards Fang Congzhe. Zhu Changluo's posthumous title and temple name are also a signal that Zhu Youxiao is sending to the court: he acknowledges the Donglin Party's contribution in helping the late emperor ascend the throne, but he does not acknowledge the Donglin Party's contribution in helping him to become emperor.

However, the reason Zhu Youxiao summoned Sun Ruyou today was not to discuss the emperor's posthumous title or temple name.

All of these have been decided.

There's nothing that can be changed.

He has ulterior motives.

Zhu Youxiao pulled out the memorial submitted by the Ministry of Rites from the pile of memorials left in the capital and asked, "The posthumous title and temple name of the late emperor have already been decided, so why has the title of the one in the Luan Palace not been determined yet?"

The memorial submitted by the Ministry of Rites posthumously honored Guo, the principal wife of Emperor Guangzong, as Empress Xiaoyuanzhen, and Wang, the birth mother of Zhu Youxiao, as Empress Xiaohe, but did not address the matter of Consort Li.

Sun Ruyou glanced at the emperor furtively and said, "The Ministry of Rites is still discussing this."

Zhu Youxiao said slowly, "Reach a conclusion as soon as possible."

This really put Sun Ruyou in a difficult position.

What outcome is this discussion ultimately aiming to reach?

Sun Ruyou tentatively asked from the side, "Consort Li has moved to the Huiluan Palace, which was originally the place where the late emperor's widows lived together. According to the regulations, she could be considered as a concubine with a salary of 400 shi. What does Your Majesty think?"

Zhu Youxiao shook his head and said, "Let her be the Empress Dowager."

After he ascended the throne, Consort Li remained obedient and honest, and apart from constantly trying to send women to him, she did not do anything else excessive.

For obedient people like this, it might be worthwhile to treat them better.

The Empress Dowager's salary was 800 shi (a unit of dry measure), and her rank and privileges were also much higher than those of a Consort Dowager.

However, like the Dowager Consort, she had almost no political power.

Only those who reached the rank of Empress or Empress Dowager had the power to hold ceremonies and consult on state affairs.

Of course, Zhu Youxiao's kindness towards Consort Li was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Every gift from fate comes with a price tag.

Later, he still needed to use this woman.

Give her some benefits first, then she'll be easier to manage.

Sun Ruyou, as a confidant of the emperor, immediately said:
"Your Majesty is wise! Although Consort Li resides deep within the palace, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, she has steadfastly upheld the virtues of a wife, working diligently day and night. When she was transferred to another palace, she never neglected her duties for personal reasons; now, residing in the 'Yu Luan' palace, she remains even more humble and self-disciplined. This truly embodies the spirit of the 'Guan Ju' poem and the exemplary conduct of the 'Ge Tan' poem. If Your Majesty were to bestow this favor and elevate her to the rank of Dowager Consort, it would not only demonstrate the imperial family's benevolence and filial piety but also comfort the late Emperor in the afterlife. Your subject respectfully obeys the decree and will instruct the Ministry of Rites to quickly draft the ceremonial procedures."

After speaking, he bowed his head and said, "In this way, the six palaces will be moved by virtue and transformed, and the world will be bathed in your grace and praise your sainthood!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

Only when someone has people under their command can their words be considered sacred decrees or golden words; otherwise, they are just empty words.

"Go and do it immediately!"

"Wei Chen takes orders."

Sun Ruyou was about to step back, but then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Your Majesty, since you are going to select Consort Li as a Consort, should Consort Zheng be promoted as well?"

Consort Zheng was not promoted to Imperial Concubine Dowager while Zhu Changluo was alive, so her current title is still Imperial Noble Consort.

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly and asked, "According to Minister Sun, I want to recommend her as a Grand Empress Dowager?"

Upon hearing the emperor's unfriendly tone, Sun Ruyou immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing.

He quickly changed his tune, saying, "The title and position of Consort Zheng were not discussed during the reign of the late Emperor, so we should naturally follow the example set by the late Emperor."

At this point, the emperor did not refute Sun Ruyou.

Sun Ruyou seized the opportunity and immediately said, "Your humble servant takes his leave."

"Wait in the Qianqing Palace."

Sun Ruyou immediately nodded and said, "Your humble servant obeys."

The Minister of Rites, who had only recently joined the cabinet, finally emerged from the East Warm Pavilion.

However, when I came out, my back was almost completely soaked.

Since His Majesty moved into the Qianqing Palace, he has become even more unpredictable.

The Sacred Heart is unpredictable!

Living with the king is like living with a tiger!

(End of this chapter)