Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

After Cheng Jing left, Xing An came in.

Zhu Qiyu picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam: "Did the Empress Dowager send any imperial edict this morning?"

Xing'an whispered, "Your Majesty, a message came from Qingning Palace at the beginning of Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

It is said that the Empress Dowager has not been feeling well these past two days.

The imperial physician examined her pulse and said that the autumn dryness had damaged her lung meridian, requiring rest and recuperation.

Zhu Qiyu chuckled softly: "Autumn dryness?"

In August, news of the defeat at Tumu Fortress reached Beijing.

Empress Dowager Sun did not sleep all night, yet the next day she was still able to convene a three-hour court meeting with her ministers in the Wenhua Hall.

Now that the Oirats have retreated and Beijing has been defended, she's become restless and anxious.

Xing'an knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Zhu Qiyu looked at the thick stack of "Zonglu's Revised Regulations" on the table.

He understood that the ministers' ultimate confidence came from Qingning Palace and Empress Dowager Sun.

She was the empress of Emperor Xuanzong.

She held in her hands not only the lingering power of an imperial edict appointing her as regent.

It was the most unquestionable legal system of the entire Ming Dynasty.

She approved Zhu Qiyu's ascension to the throne.

She could shake her head if Zhu Qiyu wanted to change the ancestral rules.

Zhu Qiyu put down his teacup: "Get up, change your clothes, I'm going to Qingning Palace to pay my respects."

Xing'an trembled: "Your Majesty, since the Empress Dowager claims to be ill..."

Zhu Qiyu stood up: "I only went because I was sick. It is only natural for a son to visit his mother."

Soon Zhu Qiyu arrived at the gate of Qingning Palace.

The hall was filled with calming incense, the aroma so strong it was almost suffocating.

Empress Dowager Sun leaned against the phoenix couch, with thick brocade cushions behind her and a thin apricot-yellow quilt with a dragon pattern covering her knees.

She has indeed lost weight.

In just two months, the once elegant and dignified empress dowager's temples were already noticeably gray.

The fine lines around my eyes have also deepened considerably.

Zhu Qiyu walked to the bedside, knelt down and bowed: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Sun did not immediately tell him to get up.

She simply stared at Zhu Qiyu kneeling before her, her gaze complex.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, "The Emperor has arrived. Please rise."

Zhu Qiyu got up and sat down on the brocade stool next to the couch.

The palace maids and eunuchs serving in the hall tactfully withdrew.

Xing'an was the last to leave, gently closing the palace door behind him.

Only the mother and son remained in the hall.

Zhu Qiyu spoke up: "The Empress Dowager is unwell, and I should not trouble her with state affairs."

"There is something I must ask of the Empress Dowager today."

Empress Dowager Sun did not respond.

She looked at Zhu Qiyu and suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, do you know why I appointed you as regent?"

Zhu Qiyu was slightly taken aback, not understanding what Empress Dowager Sun meant by asking this question.

Empress Dowager Sun didn't wait for his reply and continued speaking to herself:

"On the night of August 17th, news of the defeat at Tumu Fortress reached the capital, and I did not sleep all night."

The next day, Yu Qian, Wang Zhi, Hu Ying, and those other officials who had spoken out against injustice were present.

They knelt one by one in the Wenhua Hall.

It is said that a country cannot be without a ruler for even a day.

They said the crown prince was too young and that an older ruler should be established.

The "Changjun" they're talking about is you.

Zhu Qiyu didn't respond; he didn't know how to respond either.

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu and said, "I could have disagreed at the time."

Crown Prince Jian Shen is my grandson and the eldest son of the retired emperor.

If I insist on not allowing it, I will cite the ancestral teachings of the founding emperor and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children.

"Even the entire court cannot force me."

"Then why did Mother...?"

"Because I know they are right."

If Li Jianshen becomes emperor, my great Ming Dynasty will likely repeat the mistakes of the Song Dynasty.

So I agreed to their suggestion.

And you lived up to expectations; Beijing was defended.

The hall remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Qiyu slowly spoke: "Mother, I have come here to discuss the reform of the imperial clan."

Empress Dowager Sun sighed softly, "I know."

Zhu Qiyu continued, "The cabinet declined, the six ministries rejected the proposal, and all the imperial relatives in the country are eagerly awaiting its conclusion."

They were all waiting for the Empress Dowager's reaction.

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu: "What attitude does Your Majesty want me to take?"

Zhu Qiyu met her gaze: "Your subject wishes to request Your Majesty to issue an imperial edict, publicly announcing the approval of the reform of the imperial clan in the six departments."

Empress Dowager Sun did not answer immediately.

She gazed at the caisson ceiling of the palace for a long time before saying, "Your Majesty, do you know why the founding emperor established the 'Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty'?"

Zhu Qiyu replied, "It shall be a model for all ages, a law for future generations."

"May its legacy endure for eternity..."

Empress Dowager Sun gently repeated these four words, then suddenly smiled: "When Emperor Taizu established the Ancestral Instructions, the princes guarded the borders and held heavy military power."

At that time, what Emperor Taizu feared was not that there were too many members of the imperial clan, but that there were too few, leaving no one to act as a protector of the provinces.

Zhu Qiyu said calmly, "Times have changed, and so have the world."

Empress Dowager Sun turned to look at him: "Yes, times have changed."

Your Majesty, I am not confused.

I've seen a lot during my decades in the inner palace.

During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, there were no more than three thousand members of the imperial clan.

During your elder brother's fourteen-year reign, the number of members of the imperial clan more than doubled.

If this continues, the Oirat Mongols won't even need to invade.

The Ming Dynasty itself will be devoured by these sons and grandsons of the dragon.

Qi Zhen had said something similar before, but unfortunately…

Zhu Qiyu was taken aback.

He never expected Empress Dowager Sun to say such a thing.

Seeing his stunned expression, Empress Dowager Sun said softly, "Did Your Majesty think I would object?"

Zhu Qiyu was silent for a moment: "That is indeed what I believe."

Empress Dowager Sun shook her head: "I am the Empress Dowager, and also a daughter-in-law of the Zhu family."

I will be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple after I die.

I want to see Emperor Taizong, and I want to see Emperor Xuanzong.

I don't want to be scolded by my ancestors: "Sun family, look what you've done to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, I do not object to your decision to change the clan system; I only have one question for you."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Sun looked directly into Zhu Qiyu's eyes: "What should we do about Jian Shen?"

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Empress Dowager Sun, and Empress Dowager Sun looked at him.

Both of them understood the true meaning of the question.

Members of the imperial clan could have their titles demoted, be stripped of their titles, or enter officialdom through the imperial examinations.

What about the Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen?

Since ancestral rules can be changed, would you reform the system to depose and install Zhu Jianshen?

Zhu Qiyu slowly spoke: "The Crown Prince is naturally benevolent and filial, and has already assumed the position of Eastern Palace."

"I issued an edict to the whole country at the beginning of my reign, and this resolve remains unchanged."

Empress Dowager Sun looked at him quietly, as if trying to discern the truth of his words.

However, she didn't see any reaction on Zhu Qiyu's face.

After a long silence, Empress Dowager Sun said, "As long as you guarantee that the position of Crown Prince will never change."

I will not oppose the reform of the clan system!

Zhu Qiyu remained silent for a few moments before speaking, "I will issue another imperial edict to inform all my ministers."

As long as the crown prince does not lose his virtue in the future, he will remain the crown prince forever.

Anyone who makes false claims about deposing the emperor will be sentenced to death!

Empress Dowager Sun laughed: "Never mind, I'm too old to care about that anymore."

Have the cabinet draft a new resolution.

I will neither issue an imperial edict nor object.

Zhu Qiyu rose and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Mother. Mother, please take care of your health. Your son will take his leave now."

He then turned and walked toward the palace gate.

Empress Dowager Sun's voice came from behind: "Your Majesty."

Although I am not issuing an imperial decree, I have something to tell you.

Those princes will not let this go.

If you want to change the ancestral system, you must be prepared to face their challenges.

Zhu Qiyu turned around and bowed solemnly: "Your subject will remember Your Majesty's teachings."

As Zhu Qiyu walked out of Qingning Palace, he silently said to himself, "Nephew, I'm sorry."