Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Inside Renshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Sun sat in the main seat, while Empress Dowager Qian sat below her with slightly red eyes, clearly having just cried.

The palace maids and eunuchs standing to the side all bowed their heads and looked submissive.

This was the scene that greeted Zhu Qiyu when he entered the palace: "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

After bowing, he turned to Empress Dowager Qianqian and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Sun gestured for him to sit down: "Your Majesty, I have summoned you here today to discuss matters concerning the Retired Emperor."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Sun sighed, "The weather is getting colder every day, and the Emperor Emeritus is far beyond the Great Wall, where it's freezing cold..."

Empress Dowager Qian couldn't help but sob, "Your Majesty, please send someone to deliver some winter clothes to the Emperor Emeritus. His health is already weak; how can he endure the bitter cold..."

Zhu Qiyu said slowly, "Your Majesty and sister-in-law are absolutely right. My brother is in the enemy camp, and I am worried about him day and night."

However, the Oirat army's movements are currently erratic, and their scouts have not yet located the Emperor's whereabouts.

Empress Dowager Qian asked anxiously, "Didn't we send Yue Qian and the others before?"

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, I know you have difficulties, but the Emperor Emeritus is still your elder brother, the Emperor Emeritus of the Ming Dynasty."

If we don't even send a few winter clothes, what will people say?

Zhu Qiyu looked troubled: "How could I not know what Mother Empress said?"

However, the Empress Dowager was aware of how harsh the conditions Esen had proposed when Yue Qian was sent on his previous mission.

With war imminent, sending another delegation now would likely be seen as a sign of weakness by Yexian, who would then become even more arrogant.

Empress Dowager Qian blurted out, "Then let's send them secretly! There's no need for a big fuss. Just send a few reliable people disguised as merchants to deliver the clothes to the Oirat camp."

Empress Dowager Sun sternly stopped them: "Nonsense! What kind of status is the Emperor Emeritus? How can he secretly send clothes like this? If word gets out, where will the reputation of the Ming Dynasty be?"

Empress Dowager Qian lowered her head after being scolded, and tears streamed down her face again.

Zhu Qiyu sneered inwardly.

After Zhu Qizhen's series of actions, does the Ming Dynasty still have any face left?

"Mother, please calm down. My sister-in-law was just worried about my brother and spoke in desperation."

Alright then, I will arrange for the winter clothes to be sent.

However, how to deliver it, when to deliver it, and who to send it need to be carefully considered.

We must consider the emperor's wishes, but we must not damage the prestige of the nation.

Empress Dowager Sun's expression softened slightly: "It's best that Your Majesty thinks this way. Just tell me what you need the palace to prepare."

Zhu Qiyu then said, "It would be best if the clothing were prepared by the palace, but I suggest that in addition to winter clothes, we also prepare some commonly used medicines. The northern desert is bitterly cold and prone to disease, so it's better to be prepared."

Empress Dowager Sun nodded: "His Majesty's considerations are thorough. I will immediately instruct the Imperial Wardrobe and Imperial Pharmacy to make preparations."

The matter was settled, and the atmosphere eased considerably.

Empress Dowager Qian rose and bowed deeply to Zhu Qiyu: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Zhu Qiyu offered a slight gesture of support: "No need for such formalities, sister-in-law. We're all family."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhu Qiyu looked at Empress Dowager Sun and said, "Mother, I have been on the throne for several days, but I have not yet made arrangements for matters in the inner palace."

My birth mother, Lady Wu, is still a concubine, which is against the rules.

"And Lady Wang is my principal wife, she should also be made empress."

A complex expression flashed in Empress Dowager Sun's eyes.

She knew, of course, that Zhu Qiyu would make these two requests.

Honoring Consort Wu as Empress Dowager was tantamount to legally elevating Zhu Qiyu's social standing.

The Empress Dowager's son is the legitimate heir, making the throne even more legitimate.

Making Lady Wang empress was to consolidate the position of Zhu Qiyu's faction in the harem.

These two requests were reasonable and Empress Dowager Sun could not object to them.

Empress Dowager Sun said slowly, "Consort Wu is gentle and kind, and has made great contributions to raising the Emperor. It is only right that she be honored as Empress Dowager."

As for Lady Wang, she has managed the Prince's residence for many years and is virtuous and kind. It would not be unreasonable for her to be made Empress.

But given the current situation, this investiture ceremony…

Zhu Qiyu immediately said, "Keep everything simple. The war is urgent now, and it is not appropriate to hold a grand celebration. We can hold the celebration after we defeat the Oirat Mongols."

After a moment of contemplation, Empress Dowager Sun nodded and said, "Very well, then let's issue the imperial edict of investiture first, and the ceremony can be held later. You can discuss it with the Ministry of Rites."

Zhu Qiyu bowed and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

When we came out of Renshou Palace, it was almost dusk.

Zhu Qiyu walked along the palace road, his mind still on the conversation he had just had.

Sending winter clothes to Zhu Qizhen may seem like a small matter, but it actually hides a deeper meaning.

Empress Dowager Sun and Empress Dowager Qian genuinely cared about Zhu Qizhen, but they also used this opportunity to test his attitude.

Back in his palace, Xing'an whispered a report: "Your Majesty, Lu, the Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has a secret report."

"explain."

"Lu Tongzhi was ordered to secretly monitor Zhang Yi and others."

This afternoon, it was discovered that Duke Zhu Yi of Cheng, Marquis Chen Hao of Taining, and others were secretly gathering at the Duke of Yingguo's residence.

Subsequently, Yu Shan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Luo Tong, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, entered one after the other and stayed for about an hour before leaving.

Zhu Qiyu's eyes narrowed.

The fact that Xun Gui is colluding with civil officials is not a good sign.

Yu Shan was Wang Zhi's confidant, while Luo Tong was a well-known "pure official" in the court, known for his outspokenness.

What are they planning to do by getting together?

Zhu Qiyu instructed: "Continue to monitor, but do not alert them."

In addition, Lu Zhong was instructed to select twenty absolutely reliable individuals from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to secretly protect the Minister's residence.

Remember, this must be done in secret; you don't even need to inform Minister Yu himself.

"Your subject understands."

After Xing'an withdrew, Zhu Qiyu looked towards the western sky.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City a golden-red hue.

Zhu Qiyu muttered to himself, "The storm is brewing..."

He suddenly remembered a line of poetry: "Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it; armor gleams in the sun, like golden scales opening."

Isn't the Ming Dynasty at such a moment right now?

Externally, the Oirat cavalry were eyeing them covetously; internally, powerful and influential civil officials were stirring up trouble.

He, the emperor, was like a lone boat in the eye of a storm; a slight misstep could lead to the ship's destruction and the loss of life.

A young eunuch quietly approached: "Your Majesty, Consort Wu has sent someone to invite you. She says she has prepared dinner and asks if Your Majesty may join us."

Zhu Qiyu felt a warmth in his heart: "Let's go!"

He straightened his clothes and walked towards Yongning Palace.

When Zhu Qiyu arrived at Yongning Palace, he discovered that Consort Wu had invited more than just him.

Even Wang and Hang, along with their two sons and daughters, were there.

It's been several days since Zhu Qiyu last saw them.

After ascending the throne, he was busy with various matters.

As soon as Zhu Qiyu entered the room, several figures ran towards him.

"Father!"

The eldest son, Zhu Jianji, and the second daughter, Zhu Huirou, ran in the lead.

The third son, Zhu Jianjun, and the fourth daughter, Zhu Huiwan, also stumbled along behind.

Lady Wang and Lady Hang followed behind, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you good health."

"Get up." Zhu Qiyu nodded, then looked at Consort Wu: "Mother, are you well?"

Consort Wu looked reproachfully at Lady Wang and Lady Hang: "His Majesty is now the Son of Heaven, how can he still act as before? He should teach them some manners."

The court etiquette of the Ming Dynasty emphasized the order of ruler and subject before father and son.

Previously, Zhu Qiyu was the Prince of Cheng, so there weren't many rules to follow.

Now that he's the emperor, he can't afford to be careless; it involves royal dignity and court regulations.

Even if he intended to make changes, it wouldn't be something that could be done overnight.

However, Zhu Qiyu also had his own ideas. He quickly said, "Mother, there's no rush. It's not too late to teach them after they get married."

Seeing that Zhu Qiyu had said this, Consort Wu did not say anything more.

Zhu Qiyu then told Consort Wu about Empress Dowager Sun's request for him to send clothes to Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu's plan to appoint consorts.

Consort Wu wanted to say something more, but in the end she just sighed.

She didn't want to be the Empress Dowager, but if she didn't, Zhu Qiyu would be considered an illegitimate child.

This is something no one would allow.

When she heard that Zhu Qiyu was going to make Lady Wang his empress, Consort Wu felt a little relieved.

Lady Wang had no sons, so she was made empress.

In Wu Xianfei's view, this to some extent expressed Zhu Qiyu's wishes: he would not depose or establish a new crown prince.