The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

The three lakes of Xiyuan are shrouded in mist and waves. Where the water meets the sky, one can vaguely see the winding north and south, like a dragon lying in slumber.

The rock formations, with their domed openings and caves, seem to suggest the dwelling place of immortals. The ancient pines and cypresses, with their lush and verdant foliage, appear as if they were brought from Penglai to the mortal world. The pines and cypresses are so verdant, as if they were created by nature itself.

The palaces and pavilions are scattered among the trees, possessing both the ethereal beauty of a fairyland and the rustic charm of a water town.

Here, the emperor does not need to attend court, is not bound by ancestral laws, and does not need to meet those incessantly chattering court officials. He can also set aside the daily lectures and lengthy sermons.

A furnace of true fire and a few volumes of true scriptures encapsulate the emperor's delusional belief in something that will last forever.

After inquiring about the location of the imperial carriage, Huang Jin headed straight for Qingfu Palace.

The Qingfu Hall was the emperor's special place for offering incense. Its hall was craggy with towering palace walls. In front of it was a gate with the character "八" (eight), and the area was covered with pinkish-red clay. Inside, there were three corridors with river patterns, and the four sides were paved with white stones with watermarks.

The main hall is resplendent in gold and green, with steep eaves on both sides. The majestic image of the Jade Emperor and the Supreme Lord Laozi stands in the center, leaning against the green ox in the rear hall.

At this moment, the emperor, dressed in a Taoist robe and wearing an incense crown, was burning incense and praying, while behind him, an old Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face skillfully performed the ritual of offering sacrifices.

The emperor had a square face and a broad forehead, thick, upturned eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, a short beard, and a strong jaw. His appearance was dignified and his demeanor solemn.

Even without wearing dragon robes and imperial crowns, he can still inspire awe in people.

The imperial edict was presented to the emperor, so that Jin Hui could conceal his brilliance, and the cinnabar tablet could convey truth, thus bringing forth the precious leaves in the pearl pouch.

Grand Secretary Yan Song used a vermilion brush to write on green paper. His characters were square, solemn, and expansive, with powerful and profound strokes. The characters were rich and magnificent without being stiff, and the strokes were strong without being clumsy. It can be said to be a masterpiece in the world.

Emperor Jiajing, Zhu Houcong, gazed devoutly at the wisps of smoke rising and dissipating into the air, hoping that Heaven would bestow blessings upon him so that he might enjoy his destiny forever.

"Master Potter, the weather has been unpredictable lately, what could be the reason?"

When faced with an emperor's question, an ordinary person would quickly kowtow and answer, but this old Taoist priest was in no hurry. He slowly handed the magic weapon in his hand to his disciple, and then began to silently calculate with hand seals.

After a long silence, the old Taoist priest Tao Zhongwen stroked his beard and replied, "There are unjust cases in the capital that have not been resolved, so Heaven is issuing a warning. We should thoroughly investigate the injustices and hold a ritual to pray for rain in order to avert the disaster."

The emperor nodded, clearly convinced, and said to Yan Song, who was not far away, "Grand Secretary Yan, did you hear that?"

Yan Song was over seventy years old, with white hair and beard. Although he was somewhat thin, he was still upright, with clear eyes and a loud voice, and had a dignified air.

"Your Majesty, I will soon order the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly investigate the prisons."

"Hmm." The emperor suddenly turned around, his robes swaying, with faint dragon patterns embroidered on them in gold and silver threads.

Xu Jie, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Cheng, stood with their hands at their sides. Feeling the emperor's gaze, they bowed even more respectfully.

"We've received news of victory in the northern frontier. How should we reward them? What are your discussions about?"

Duke Zhu Xizhong of Chengguo was the great-grandson of Zhu Neng, the famous general who fought in the Jingnan Rebellion. He was in charge of the Right Army Commandery and commanded the regimental and five military camps. His reputation was above that of other meritorious officials.

The man was tall and in his prime, more than a head taller than Xu Jie, who had fair skin and a delicate face. He bowed and said loudly, "The enemy is very aggressive. A small invasion will bring small benefits, while a large invasion will bring great benefits. The border people are suffering from their tyranny, and our soldiers are cowardly and have become weak."

"The fact that our generals have now managed to thwart their advance and force them to flee in disarray is unprecedented in recent years. We should set aside the matter of their achievements and use this as a warning to all the other garrisons."

Xu Jie continued, "The rewards for the generals and soldiers have been largely decided, but the reward for Commander-in-Chief Zhou Shangwen is still to be decided by Your Majesty's own judgment, given his high rank and outstanding achievements."

The emperor pondered for a moment: "Let him be granted the title of Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, and let one of his sons inherit the hereditary title of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You can discuss and decide on the rest of the rewards."

"promise."

At this moment, a middle-aged eunuch dressed in a scarlet bullfighting robe, with a fair complexion, no beard, and a slightly plump figure, bowed and stepped forward:

"Your Majesty, Master Tao was absolutely right. Today is indeed an auspicious day. First, the clouds displayed five colors, then came the good news from the northern frontier, and then a white deer gave birth to a child. Auspicious omens are appearing one after another. This is Heaven bestowing blessings upon Your Majesty."

Everyone present was deeply moved and knelt down in unison, saying, "Your Majesty, we congratulate you on the auspicious occasion of your fast and prayer. Long live the Emperor!"

A smile appeared on the gaunt face of the Jiajing Emperor, and auspicious omens appeared one after another, which was indeed a good omen.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to you guys."

"How dare we claim credit for what Heaven has done?"

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "How is the son of the white deer?"

Huang Jin returned after personally inspecting the animal and immediately replied, "It is in good spirits, but its fur color is not as white as its mother's."

Upon hearing this, the emperor felt a slight regret, but he did not show it on his face. He simply ordered everyone to rise and bestowed upon them fragrant crowns and pills.

After sweeping the dust off his knees with a whisk, Tao Zhongwen said leisurely, "The more auspicious the omen, the rarer it is. The dragon has nine sons, each different. Why? Because in this world, only one true dragon can exist."

These words undoubtedly pleased Jiajing, but he did not say anything more. He simply made a hand seal, closed his eyes, and chanted something. Everyone stood with their hands at their sides, and no one dared to speak up and disturb him.

After a moment, Jiajing slowly opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and then turned his gaze to Xu Jie. Apart from him, the others were all important officials who regularly stayed in the Wuyi Hall.

Feeling that indescribable pressure, Xu Jie bent his back even more, showing the reverence that should be due to the monarch.

"Xu Jie," the emperor called to him, "two lines in the petition you presented yesterday were quite good: 'Emerging from the primordial chaos and grasping the mandate of heaven, his profound achievements are unfathomable; bestowing rain and dew upon all people, his imperial virtue is selfless.'"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone knew that Xu Jie had passed the test. Even if he could not directly enter the cabinet, he would at least be promoted.

He was already a third-rank official, and if he were promoted again, he would become a minister. He was only half a step away from entering the cabinet, and this half step also depended on the emperor's decision.

"Your humble servant is filled with trepidation."

Jiajing chuckled, put his hands behind his back, circled Xu Jie who was kneeling on the ground, and then asked Yan Song, "Is the position of Minister of Rites still vacant?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

Xu Jie looked at the ground just inches away from him, breathing softly and trying to calm himself down, not wanting anyone to notice anything unusual about him.

He wasn't overjoyed at the possibility of being promoted to Minister of Rites, but rather considering whether the emperor still intended to test him.

The previous Minister of Rites died last October, his head rolling onto the execution platform in the West Market. The lowest position he held was Minister of Rites.

He once served as Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Junior Tutor, and Grand Master of the Palace. He served twice as the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty. His surname was Xia, his given name was Yan, his courtesy name was Gongjin, and his pen name was Guizhou.

The relationship between Xia Yan and him was simple. He was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination in the second year of the Jiajing reign. At that time, Xia Yan was serving as a co-examiner for the metropolitan examination. According to the rules of officialdom, he had to respect him as his mentor and serve under him. At the same time, the mentor should also promote his own students.

Undoubtedly, the teacher fulfilled his responsibilities; he became a high-ranking official of the third rank in his early forties. However, as a student, he chose to protect himself during last year's turmoil.

"A ministerial post cannot remain vacant forever. Minister Yan, please go back and summon people to discuss this matter."

"promise"

According to regulations, when a vacancy arises for a high-ranking official of the third rank or above, two or three candidates are jointly recommended by officials of the third rank or above, along with the Nine Ministers and officials of the Censorate, and appointed after the emperor's decision.

After Yan Song agreed, his gaze fell on Xu Jie's back. He had finally managed to bring down Xia Yan, and naturally wanted to eliminate all of his followers to prevent future troubles, and to assign important positions to his own followers.

However, the emperor clearly intended to check and balance the emperor, so the Minister of Rites could only be Xu Jie. In this dynasty, no one dared to directly defy the emperor's will, not even him, the Grand Secretary.

.........