Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Qiyu, accompanied by Empress Wang and Consort Hang, entered Qingning Palace to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Sun.

Empress Dowager Sun raised her hand: "Rise, all of you."

The palace maids brought over a brocade stool, and Zhu Qiyu sat down on the left.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang sat on the right side, slightly behind.

Both were dressed in loose palace attire, and their bellies were already slightly protruding.

Empress Dowager Sun's gaze shifted from Empress Wang to Consort Hang, and then back again.

A hint of tenderness flashed in her eyes: "Both of you are pregnant, so there's no need for you to come and pay your respects every day."

It's not good to get cold in this freezing weather.

Taking good care of her is the right thing to do.

Empress Wang bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Mother."

"I am feeling well; the imperial physician said that walking around a bit is fine."

Consort Hang also said softly, "That's right, the imperial physician advised me to engage in moderate exercise and not to lie in bed all day."

Empress Dowager Sun nodded and looked at Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, you must have had a hard time these days."

I heard that envoys from various countries have arrived, and the court is in an uproar.

Zhu Qiyu smiled and said, "It has been decided that the New Year's Day court ceremony will proceed as scheduled."

Yesterday, the meeting was held in the Wenhua Hall for an hour, and Yu Qian, Jin Lian, and Zhang Lun all advocated proceeding as usual.

Although Yang Shan had objections, he couldn't come up with a better solution.

Your son has made up his mind.

Empress Dowager Sun nodded slightly: "It should be held as scheduled."

No matter how difficult things get, the Ming Dynasty cannot afford to lose face in front of its tributary states.

Emperor Taizong moved the capital to Beijing so that all nations could witness the majesty of the Great Ming Dynasty.

It would be unseemly to close one's doors to visitors simply because of a war.

As they were talking, breakfast was served.

A simple bowl of congee and side dishes, a few plates of snacks, and a steamer of hot buns.

Empress Dowager Sun placed a steamed bun on the plate in front of Zhu Qiyu: "Your Majesty, please try this. I had the small kitchen make it; it's filled with mutton."

Zhu Qiyu thanked him and took a bite.

After eating for a while, Empress Dowager Sun put down her chopsticks: "Your Majesty, I have something I would like to ask you."

Zhu Qiyu also put down his chopsticks: "Please speak, Mother."

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu: "The Emperor Emeritus has been in Oirat for more than four months."

I heard that Esen sent an envoy, saying that he could send the body back to the Emperor Emeritus.

What does the Emperor intend to do?

Zhu Qiyu also looked at Empress Dowager Sun: "Mother, I saw the list of envoys yesterday."

Esen's envoy did indeed arrive; his name was Batu.

The official document he brought has already been translated by the Honglu Temple.

The gist of it is that Esen is willing to return the Emperor to China and requests that our dynasty open trade.

Empress Dowager Sun's eyes flickered slightly: "Then how does His Majesty intend to respond?"

Zhu Qiyu: "Mother, I said at the court meeting that we will definitely welcome them back, but this needs to be discussed in detail."

Empress Dowager Sun looked at him: "What are you discussing?"

Zhu Qiyu: "What Esen wanted was not to return the body to the Emperor Emeritus, but to establish a trade relationship."

Once the trade trade is established, the Oirat will be able to obtain grain, cloth, and medicine from the Central Plains.

With these things, they won't starve to death in winter.

In a few years, they will be able to invade the south again.

Your Majesty, I cannot allow this tiger to grow into a menace.

The ministers need to discuss the specific terms of the exchange.

Therefore, my brother will have to endure this for a few more months.

Empress Dowager Sun remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, she sighed softly, "I understand what the Emperor is saying..."

Just then, a woman dressed in plain clothes walked out of the door.

Empress Dowager.

She was much thinner than Zhu Qiyu remembered.

Empress Dowager Qian knelt down in the hall: "Your subject greets the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Sun nodded: "Get up."

The Empress Dowager did not rise, but knelt on the ground and looked up at Zhu Qiyu.

Her voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty, I know I shouldn't be saying these things at this time."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face: "The Emperor Emeritus has been in Oirat for more than four months."

I have heard that the winters in the Oirat region are extremely cold, so cold that they can freeze a person's ears off.

The Emperor Emeritus grew up in the palace, living a life of luxury and comfort. He had never suffered such hardship.

"I can't sleep at night. Every time I close my eyes, I dream that Your Majesty is freezing and starving in the snow..."

She lay prostrate on the ground, her shoulders trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, I beg you, I beg you to find a way to bring the Emperor Emeritus back."

Please, please don't let him suffer outside...

Empress Wang lowered her head, her eyes reddening slightly.

Consort Hang quietly turned her face away and wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu without saying a word.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the kneeling Empress Dowager Qian and remained silent for a long time.

He knew that Empress Dowager Qian was speaking from the heart.

She was also a pitiful person.

Historically, this retired empress donated all her jewelry in order to welcome back Zhu Qizhen.

After Zhu Qizhen was captured, she cried day and night, and even cried herself blind in one eye.

Zhu Qiyu personally helped her up: "Sister-in-law, please stand up and speak."

Empress Dowager Qian was helped up, and looked at Zhu Qiyu with tearful eyes.

Zhu Qiyu said softly, "I understand that my sister-in-law misses the Emperor Emeritus. The Emperor Emeritus was my own brother, and I miss him too."

A glimmer of hope flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Zhu Qiyu continued, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I will discuss with the ministers as soon as possible a plan to welcome back my brother."

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Qian couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her face.

She took a step back and bowed deeply again: "Your Majesty, I thank you."

Your Majesty is a man of great affection and loyalty.

Your Majesty…

She couldn't continue speaking; she just kept wiping away her tears.

Empress Dowager Sun sighed softly from the side: "Alright, sit down and let's talk."

Don't cry during the Lunar New Year.

"Someone, serve tea to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Qian wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and sat down on the brocade stool.

Empress Wang and Consort Hang stepped forward to gently comfort her.

Zhu Qiyu walked back to his seat, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

Empress Dowager Sun looked at Zhu Qiyu with a complicated expression.

She was finding it increasingly difficult to understand this "son".

She couldn't tell how much of what he said was true and how much was just a temporary measure.

But she knew that he was not the Prince of Cheng she remembered.

Perhaps, the Ming Dynasty can truly prosper again in his lineage...

Shaking her head, Empress Dowager Sun withdrew her thoughts and said softly, "Your Majesty, I will not interfere in the New Year's Day court celebrations. But there is one thing I would like to ask you."

Zhu Qiyu looked at her: "Please speak, Mother."

Empress Dowager Sun said, "Jian Shen is now living in the Eastern Palace."

I was thinking of having him come out and meet people on New Year's Day.

After all, he is the crown prince.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Qiyu nodded: "What the Empress Dowager says is right. The Crown Prince should show up for the New Year's Day court audience."

Empress Dowager Sun nodded slightly: "Alright, I will have someone prepare."

Breakfast continued in silence.

After finishing the porridge in his bowl, Zhu Qiyu got up and took his leave.

As she left Qingning Palace, Empress Wang whispered, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Qian..."

Zhu Qiyu patted the back of her hand: "I know she is genuinely worried about the Emperor Emeritus."

Empress Wang said softly, "What His Majesty just said..."

Zhu Qiyu looked at the snow-covered palace walls in the distance and said slowly, "I will bring him back."