Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 124 Emperor Gongren Kangding Jing

The morning assembly ended at noon.

The officials filed out, discussing the shocking turn of events in small groups.

Someone shook their head and sighed, "The retired emperor—alas, how could he—"

Some people were worried: "His Majesty said he'll settle accounts with Esen sooner or later. Could it be that we're going to have another war?"

"Go to war? We just finished fighting, where would we get the money and supplies to fight again?"

"So, we'll just leave it at that?"

"Let it go? Do you think His Majesty's temper can be let go?"

Amidst the discussions, the officials gradually dispersed.

Yu Qian walked at the back, exhaling as he looked towards Fengtian Gate.

He knew this matter was far from over.

At the court meeting, Zhu Qiyu agreed to Yang Shan's request to thoroughly investigate Yue Qian and Li Yan.

Yang Shan had no intention of letting things go peacefully; he would definitely try every means to cause trouble for Yue Qian.

And this accident—

Thinking of this, Yu Qian shook his head and followed the court officials out of the palace.

Qingning Palace.

Empress Dowager Sun sat on the couch, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her eyes slightly closed, and muttering incantations.

Since moving to Qingning Palace, she has rarely concerned herself with palace affairs.

She spends her days worshipping Buddha and chanting scriptures, as if nothing in the world matters to her.

Sandalwood incense burned in the hall, its smoke curling upwards.

A young eunuch rushed in and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, news has come from the Qianqing Palace that at today's court meeting—"

Empress Dowager Sun opened her eyes: "What happened at the court meeting?"

The young eunuch's voice trembled: "The Emperor Emeritus—the Emperor Emeritus was caught in an avalanche on his way home and has passed away."

The prayer beads fell to the ground with a thud.

Empress Dowager Sun stared blankly at the young eunuch, remaining unresponsive for a long time.

The little eunuch lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

After a long silence, Empress Dowager Sun slowly stood up, tears glistening in her eyes: "My town—my town—"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, followed by a eunuch's announcement: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

Empress Dowager Sun was slightly taken aback and turned around.

A small, thin figure rushed into the hall; it was none other than the young Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen.

He was panting heavily, his face flushed red, and his eyes were filled with terror.

Upon seeing Empress Dowager Sun, he knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with sobs: "Grandmother! Grandmother! They said—"

"They say Father Emperor—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Jianshen burst into tears.

Empress Dowager Sun felt a pang of sorrow as she looked at her grandson.

Zhu Jianshen was raised in the palace from birth and was personally cared for by Empress Dowager Sun.

In this deep palace, besides his mother, Lady Zhou, the only one who truly loved him was his grandmother.

Empress Dowager Sun went over, helped him up, and held him in her arms: "Good child, don't cry, don't cry."

She whispered, "Your father—he went to a very far place."

Zhu Jianshen raised his head, his eyes blurry with tears, and looked at her: "Is Father Emperor dead? Everyone says Father Emperor is dead." Empress Dowager Sun was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, your father Emperor has passed away."

Zhu Jianshen stared blankly at her, then suddenly burst into tears again.

Empress Dowager Sun held him and gently patted his back.

Only the child's cries echoed in the hall for a long time.

After crying for an unknown amount of time, Zhu Jianshen finally calmed down.

Empress Dowager Sun looked down at him and suddenly asked, "Jianshen, are you afraid?"

Zhu Jianshen was taken aback: "What are you afraid of?"

Empress Dowager Sun said, "I'm afraid of your imperial uncle."

Zhu Jianshen was silent for a while, then whispered, "My royal uncle—he's been very good to me."

Last time, they even sent me a little wooden horse.

Empress Dowager Sun looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

After a long silence, she said softly, "Jianshen, you must remember, you are the Crown Prince."

No matter what happens, you must be well.

Do you understand?

Zhu Jianshen nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Empress Dowager Sun didn't say anything more, but simply hugged him tighter.

Five days later, Yue Qian and his entourage arrived in Beijing.

The procession entered the city through Deshengmen.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites were already waiting at the city gate.

Yue Qian dismounted and bowed to the official.

The official glanced at the procession behind him and lowered his voice, saying, "Minister Yue, His Majesty has decreed that you go directly to the Qianqing Palace for an audience."

"The retired emperor can now be left to us."

Yue Qian nodded, then turned to Li Yan: "Commander Li, you go to the Ministry of War to report. I'll go see His Majesty first."

Li Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Minister Yue, rest assured."

Yue Qian mounted his horse and followed the official toward the imperial city.

Zhu Qiyu had been waiting in the Qianqing Palace for a long time.

Yue Qian entered the hall and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, this sinful subject Yue Qian pays his respects!"

Zhu Qiyu: "Minister Yue, you've worked hard. Please stand up and speak."

Yue Qian stood up, bowed his head, and said, "I failed in my duty to protect Your Majesty, causing the Emperor Emeritus to suffer misfortune. I deserve to die a thousand deaths. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at him and said, "Minister Yue, I know everything about your trip."

Avalanches are natural disasters, not your fault.

Esen has treacherous ambitions; I will settle this score with him.

You don't need to blame yourself.

Yue Qian raised his head, a complex expression flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty—"

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "Where is the Emperor Emeritus's body?"

Yue Qian said, "It has been transported outside the city and received by officials from the Ministry of Rites."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Alright, go back and rest first. The Three Departments will summon you to question you about the situation. Be sure to answer truthfully."

Yue Qian kowtowed: "Your subject dares not conceal anything in the slightest."

In the days that followed, Beijing was immersed in mourning.

The Ministry of Rites was busy preparing for the funeral, the Imperial Observatory was busy choosing an auspicious day, and the Ministry of Works was busy rushing to make the coffin.

A few days later, Zhu Qizhen's coffin was brought into the palace and placed in the Renzhi Hall.

Zhu Qiyu led all the officials to personally attend the sacrificial ceremony.

Incense smoke filled the air in the mourning hall, and white banners fluttered in the breeze.

Zhu Qiyu stood before the coffin, gazing at the enormous coffin for a long time without saying a word.

Empress Dowager Qian knelt before the coffin, weeping so hard she almost fainted.

Zhou was supporting her beside her.

Behind Zhou stood a small, thin figure.

Today, Zhu Jianshen is dressed in white mourning clothes.

The small figure looked particularly lonely amidst the white banners filling the hall.

Zhu Qiyu's gaze fell on him and paused for a moment.

Finally, he turned and walked to Empress Dowager Qian: "Brother and sister-in-law, please accept my condolences."

Empress Dowager Qian sobbed, "Thank you, Your Majesty. You have worked hard."

"This is what I should do."

Zhu Qiyu then turned and left.

Although Zhu Qizhen is now the retired emperor, he did, after all, reign as emperor for fourteen years.

According to the rites drafted by the Ministry of Rites, Zhu Qizhen will be sent to Tianshou Mountain in accordance with the "burial of an emperor".

However, since no mausoleum has been built, Zhu Qizhen's coffin will be temporarily placed in Renzhi Hall.

Zhu Qiyu then ordered the Ministry of Works to expedite the construction of the mausoleum by gathering craftsmen.

It is located on the southern slope of Shimen Mountain, the western peak of Tianshou Mountain.

At the same time, following the suggestion of the Ministry of Rites, Zhu Qiyu bestowed upon Zhu Qizhen the posthumous title of Emperor Gongren Kangding Jing.

This is the posthumous title that Zhu Jianshen gave to Zhu Qiyu in history.

Now Zhu Qiyu bestowed this posthumous title upon Zhu Qizhen.

Zhu Qiyu and Zhu Qizhen did not actually have any deep-seated hatred for each other.

Since his rebirth, Zhu Qizhen's arrangements for Zhu Qiyu have all been in accordance with what an emperor should do.

Zhu Qiyu could understand.

Zhu Qiyu's perspective on history is more about how later generations view it: you can be incompetent, but you can't be stupid.

Just like Zhu Youjian, his abilities were insufficient; it was simply that destiny was not on his side.

But to hang oneself from a tree in the southeast—that's the demeanor of an emperor!

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