Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

December 23rd, the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign (1444), was the Little New Year.

The streets and alleys of Beijing are already filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

Red lanterns were hung on both sides of Qianmen Street.

Some even set up offering tables at the door, lit incense and candles, and sent the Kitchen God to heaven.

The children, dressed in their new clothes, chased and played in the street.

Firecrackers could be heard popping up in the alley from time to time.

Zhu Qiyu stood on the steps of Qianqing Palace, gazing at the faint signs of life outside the palace walls, a smile playing on his lips.

Cheng Jing bowed and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's time for your meal."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "No rush. Send someone to Kunning Palace to tell me that I will go there later to dine with the Empress."

Just as Cheng Jing stepped down, he saw Xing An hurrying in from outside the palace gate.

"Your Majesty, Li Shi, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, requests an audience."

Zhu Qiyu raised an eyebrow slightly: "Let him in."

Shortly afterward, Li Shi entered the hall and knelt down, saying, "Your subject, Li Shi, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Get up, what is it?"

Li Shi rose and took out a document from his sleeve, presenting it with both hands: "Your Majesty, since the tenth day of the twelfth month..."

Envoys from various vassal states and neighboring tribes arrived in the capital one after another, requesting to participate in the New Year's Day celebrations.

This is the roster compiled by the Court of State Ceremonial; Your Majesty, please review it.

Zhu Qiyu took the register, which was densely filled with the names of envoys from various countries, their countries of origin, arrival times, and the number of their entourages.

The Korean envoy, Li Sizhe, arrived in the capital on the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, accompanied by 147 attendants.

The Ryukyu Kingdom's envoy, Xiang Yongdi, arrived in the capital on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, accompanied by 123 attendants.

The Japanese envoy, Higashibo Hideshige, arrived in Kyoto on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, accompanied by 138 attendants.

……

Zhu Qiyu closed the register and chuckled softly, "How lively! The total number of envoys from all seventeen routes exceeds two thousand."

Li Shi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this does not include the envoys sent by the chieftains of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other places to celebrate the New Year."

Those matters will be handled separately by the Ministry of Rites and will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Court of State Ceremonial.

Zhu Qiyu nodded and placed the roster on the table: "How have these envoys been doing in the capital these days?"

Li Shidao said, "Your Majesty, the Court of State Ceremonies has arranged for them to stay in the Huitong Hall as per usual practice."

The envoys from Korea, Ryukyu, Annam and other countries were courteous and polite to the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial.

The envoys from the Uriyangkhai Three Guards were old acquaintances, coming every year and knowing all the proper etiquette.

only……"

Zhu Qiyu looked at him: "Just what?"

Li Shi: "It's just that the two Oirat delegations don't get along."

Esen's delegation stayed in the North Courtyard, while Araq's delegation stayed in the South Courtyard, with an alley separating the two courtyards.

However, the envoys from both sides have run into each other several times in the alleys in the past few days and almost came to blows.

I ordered my men to separate them, and only then did the matter quiet down.

A hint of amusement flashed in Zhu Qiyu's eyes: "Oh? How exactly do you not get along?"

Li Shidao said: "Esen's envoy Batu, upon seeing the envoys of Arazhiyuan, cursed them as treacherous slaves."

Bayan, the envoy of Arazhiyuan, cursed Esen for his relentless military campaigns that led his people to their deaths.

Both sides stick to their own versions of events, and neither is willing to concede.

Zhu Qiyu laughed after hearing this, "That's fine then, as long as no one dies. As for the ranking for the New Year's Day court audience..."

He paused and looked at Xing'an beside him: "Tomorrow I will discuss this matter with my ministers."

"You hereby inform the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers that they shall gather at the Wenhua Hall at precisely the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) for a meeting."

Xing'an bowed and said, "As you command."

That evening, at Kunning Palace.

Empress Wang leaned against the soft couch, her belly already slightly protruding.

Consort Hang also sat to the side, looking much better than she had a few days ago.

The imperial physician confirmed a few days ago that she was indeed pregnant.

Zhu Qiyu sat on the edge of the couch, holding Empress Wang's hand in one hand and gently stroking her belly with the other, and said with a smile, "The imperial physician said today that the fetus is stable, so you can just rest assured and take care of yourself."

Empress Wang smiled and said, "Your Majesty visits me every day; it's hard for me not to feel at ease."

Consort Hang covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Zhu Qiyu looked up at her: "Yunxian, you too."

The imperial physician said you are in poor health and need to take good care of yourself.

There's no need to go and pay your respects every day.

Consort Hang bowed her head and responded, her eyes filled with joy.

Empress Wang said softly, "Your Majesty, today is the Little New Year, and I have prepared offerings in accordance with Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "That's right, let's send off the Kitchen God together later."

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty imperial family, officials from the Guangtaichang Temple would typically represent the imperial family to perform sacrifices on the 24th of the twelfth month.

But Zhu Qiyu felt that this was too troublesome and lacked the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

He then decided to lead the Empress and the others in holding the Kitchen God Festival ceremony that night.

Before long, the palace maids set up an incense table in the main hall of Kunning Palace and placed offerings such as sugar melons, water, and beans on it.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang stood behind Zhu Qiyu, and the three of them stood together in front of the incense table.

Zhu Qiyu lit incense and bowed three times, silently praying, "When the Kitchen God goes to Heaven, speak more good words and less bad words."

"May my empire be secure, may the Empress and Yunxian have a safe delivery, and may the Ming Dynasty enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests next year."

After the ceremony, he inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang also quietly recited the sacrificial verses, and after they finished, they also lit incense.

When I returned to the warm pavilion, dinner was already laid out.

Although it was the Little New Year, Zhu Qiyu instructed that there should be no extravagance, only a few home-style dishes.

Empress Wang picked up a pastry and smiled, "Your Majesty, this was specially prepared by the Imperial Kitchen at my request."

There are copper coins hidden inside; whoever finds one will have good fortune in the coming year.

Zhu Qiyu laughed, but as soon as he took a bite, he felt his teeth hit something hard.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang both laughed: "Your Majesty is indeed a blessed person."

Zhu Qiyu spat out a copper coin and laughed, "I am blessed, and you are blessed too. Here, keep this copper coin safe for me."

The warm room was filled with joy and laughter.

After finishing his meal, Zhu Qiyu sat in Kunning Palace for a while longer.

Just as he was about to get up and return to the Qianqing Palace, a female official hurriedly entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Aunt Liu, who serves the Empress Dowager, has arrived."

Zhu Qiyu's brow twitched slightly: "Let her in."

Aunt Liu entered and knelt down, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Highness Consort Hang."

Zhu Qiyu raised his hand: "Rise, Empress Dowager. What is it?"

Aunt Liu stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager said today is the Little New Year."

I would like to invite Your Majesty, the Empress, and Consort Hang to have breakfast at Qingning Palace early tomorrow morning.

In addition, Empress Dowager Qian was also in Qingning Palace.

The Empress Dowager said that the Empress Dowager had been missing the Emperor Emeritus these days and was feeling unwell.

If it is convenient for Your Majesty tomorrow, please also grant him an audience with the Empress Dowager.

The atmosphere in the warm room suddenly became subtle.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang both lowered their eyes and dared not speak.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Understood. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the Empress, Consort Hang, and I will go to Qingning Palace to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

Aunt Liu kowtowed: "This servant obeys the decree."

After Aunt Liu left, Empress Wang said softly, "Your Majesty, what about Empress Dowager Qian...?"

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "I know."

After saying that, he got up and walked out.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Qiyu sat behind his desk, gazing absently at the list of envoys on it.

Korea, Ryukyu, Annam, Champa, Siam, Japan, Hami, Uriyangkhai, Tatars, Oirats...

The seventeen envoys each harbored their own thoughts.

Korea is a loyal subject, paying tribute every year with the utmost courtesy.

For the Ryukyu, Annam, Champa, and Siamese countries, it was merely a routine matter of maintaining tributary trade.

Japan……

The envoy, Higashibo Hideshige, was said to be a member of the Hosokawa family.

The Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa had just ascended to the throne, and the country was in turmoil, yet he still sent envoys to the Japanese court.

Haji of Hamiwei was an envoy of King Budashiri.

Hami is located in a strategic location in the Western Regions. In recent years, it has been squeezed from both sides by the Oirat Mongols and Turpan, and its life has been difficult.

His visit to pay homage will likely be the same as always; please ask the Ming Dynasty to step in and ease tensions.

The Uriyangkhai Three Guards were old acquaintances, coming every year to pay tribute, and they knew the rules better than some Han Chinese officials.

Zhang Wenbi of the Tatars, whom Zhu Qiyu met the last time he came, is a sensible man.

Tuotuo Buhua sent him here to express his gratitude.

Two Oirat missions...

Zhu Qiyu rubbed his temples and sighed softly.

He suddenly remembered himself in his past life.

Back then, every year on the Little New Year, my mother would make dumplings and hide copper coins inside them.

At that time, he felt that these were all old rules and didn't mean much.

Now he thinks these old rules are really good.