The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 121 承天

In this weather, going to the West Garden wouldn't be easy. His wife and wet nurse couldn't dissuade him, so they dressed him in a thick cotton robe with a white fox fur lining, an overcoat of black fox fur reaching his ankles, a mink scarf around his neck, a black felt hat with mink earmuffs, and thick socks.

Cloud-patterned thick-soled cotton boots.

He also had a waist warmer hanging around his waist and was holding a gilded red copper hand warmer in his hands. And that wasn't all; his wet nurse, Liu, also gave him a bowl of hot ginger and jujube soup.

Standing in the hall, Zhu Zaizhen was no longer unafraid of the cold; he was almost sweating. However, he still instructed his entourage to quickly put on thick coats and gave each of them a bowl of ginger soup, which made them unable to stop expressing their gratitude.

Once outside, the wind had just stopped, and large snowflakes drifted down slowly. Looking up, all I could see was a pristine white expanse.

"Your Highness, this servant has prepared a warm sedan chair."

"No need, I should take a walk too."

The snow on the palace path was as smooth as cotton and as flat as a carpet. Eunuchs and palace maids swept the snow to make a path, leaving a narrow trail without any messy footprints.

There was no problem with passage; with light footsteps on the snow, they headed straight for Yongshou Palace.

Along the way, Zhu Zaizhen was also thinking about how to say this. Just a few days ago, everyone presented a congratulatory message on the auspicious snow. If he said the snow was too heavy now, it would probably cause a blizzard and the people would freeze and starve.

How disappointing, how offensive! If one is not careful, one will make irresponsible remarks about auspicious omens and undermine good fortune.

Therefore, we still need to approach it indirectly, following the will of the emperor and the administration of the court, initiating official disaster relief, ensuring that the grace comes from imperial power and that benevolent governance belongs to the court. Only in this way can we achieve the best outcome.

Amidst the swirling snow and wind, my thoughts wandered endlessly.

As we traveled to the Xiyuan area, the scenery suddenly changed. The pavilions and towers were all covered in snow, and the green pines and bamboos were covered with frost.

Every altar, platform, and incineration site was swept clean and spotless. The bluestone steps were clean and free of snow. Only the ancient trees by the altars stood alone, covered in snow, quiet and solitary.

Not far away, incense smoke still rises straight up from the Danfang Xiangdian. The emperor prayed day and night for snow, hoping for a response from heaven and earth and a peaceful and prosperous era. And the emperor was rewarded with a sky full of auspicious snow.

But he resided high in the Western Garden Palace, never able to see the tragic scenes outside the palace walls: blizzards sealing off the city, houses collapsing, and refugees freezing to death.

Huang Jin, dressed in a bright red hooded cape with a white cashmere lining, looked exceptionally festive. He came forward, bowed, and asked with concern, "My young master, it's freezing cold, why did you come out?"

Seeing that he had been waiting for a while and that the back of his hand was red, Zhu Zaizhen casually stuffed the hand warmer into his hand: "You missed your father, so you came to see him."

"Oh dear, this servant has thick skin and is resistant to the cold, you—"

"Alright, Huang Ban, let's walk a few more steps and we'll be there."

Zhu Zaizhen walked to the front on his own. Huang Jin felt warm in his hands and heart. Ma Dezhao, who was following behind, smiled and said, "When we came out, His Highness was dressed warmly and had a hand warmer around his waist. Huang Gonggong, you don't need to worry. His Highness is in good health now."

"Well, Your Highness was so young back then, it's only been a blink of an eye."

Huang Jin sighed, "Eunuch Ma, we're getting old too."

The two exchanged a few words in hushed tones, then quickly caught up with him and soon arrived at the imperial bedchamber. Jiajing was still wearing his thin Taoist robe, while Zhu Zaizhen was wrapped up tightly like a steamed bun.

Jiajing couldn't help but laugh and said, "Who dressed you like this?"

Huang Jin and Ma Dezhao quickly helped His Highness remove his outer robe and the hand warmer at his waist, and only then did Zhu Zaizhen perform the proper greeting.

"Reporting to Father Emperor, it is the Grand Chamberlain who will not let me go out without wearing it."

"Hmm." Jiajing looked at Ma Dezhao and said, "You've taken good care of him."

Ma Dezhao quickly knelt down: "This is all a servant's duty."

"I remember you. Back in Consort Jing's palace, you were the most composed. That's why I appointed you as Prince Jing's chief attendant. You have lived up to my expectations."

These words were already the highest praise the master could give to his servant. Ma Dezhao knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the back of his folded hands, his voice trembling slightly.

"This servant is utterly unworthy and unworthy; it is all thanks to the blessings of His Majesty and the Empress, and the wisdom and filial piety of His Highness. This is a blessing from the imperial family, and this servant dares not take credit for it."

Jiajing slowly walked past him: "Merit is merit. Huang Jin, you shall arrange the reward. In addition, you are granted special permission to enter and leave the West Garden Palace without prior notice. On the days of my fasting ceremony, you may accompany Prince Jing into the palace to stand in attendance."

"This servant kowtows in gratitude for Heaven's grace!"

Ma Dezhao wiped away his tears in a disheveled manner. Jiajing was even more pleased when he saw this. "My judgment is excellent! If Consort Jing had arranged for someone, Prince Jing would definitely not be as good as he is now."

Jiajing looked at his son, and his face darkened again. This brat was actually making faces and laughing at his master.

Zhu Zaizhen was caught off guard by his father's suddenly darkening face. He quickly suppressed his playful laughter, stood up straight, and looked obedient.

Jiajing snorted coldly, his gaze returning to Ma Dezhao: "Get up. Your loyalty to your master and your steady conduct are the foundation of your position. Continue to serve Prince Jing wholeheartedly, and you will not fail to live up to the rewards I have bestowed upon you today."

"Yes, this servant will serve my master with all my heart and soul."

Emperor Jiajing sat on his throne, his hand unconsciously picking up the jade ruyi scepter. He gently shook it and suddenly asked, "The ruyi you presented is quite nice. Where did it come from?"

Of course, it was obtained from Yan Shifan. The good things in Zhu Zaizhen's treasury were all imperial gifts. He couldn't very well return his father's things as birthday presents. It would also be difficult to buy them in the capital. The treasures that the emperor truly valued were basically not available on the market.

His expression remained unchanged, but his heart tightened. He hadn't found a suitable opportunity to bring up the matter of the severe snow disaster, and his father had already taken a dislike to him and was looking for a reason to reprimand him.

To say that Yan Shifan presented it as a gift is to be accused of colluding with his cronies; to say that it was bought in the market is to be accused of deceiving the emperor. It is truly like serving a tiger.

"Your son bought it from Yan Shifan!"

"Bought it." Jiajing repeated, a smile appearing on his face. This rascal is really clever.

"How much silver did it cost?" Jiajing continued to probe.

That's it. Saying it's cheap is disrespectful, and saying it's expensive means you have to explain where the money came from.

If you say you've spent all your savings, you'll be criticized for being extravagant and wasteful.

"It didn't cost any money."

Seeing his father's face gradually turn cold, Zhu Zaizhen quickly took out the seal of prudence and caution from his waist and said, "How can such a precious gift to Father be bought with such vulgar things as silver?"

Your son is offering this first piece of calligraphy, a priceless treasure purchased with a priceless treasure, as a tribute to Your Majesty.

Fortunately, he had taken precautions and traded his doodles from when he was learning to paint cats from Xu Wei with Yan Shifan for the Ruyi.

Ruyi is certainly valuable, but is my painting worthless?

Emperor Jiajing said disdainfully, "Your painting is worth this jade ruyi?"

Zhu Zaizhen said confidently, "How is it not worth it? Your subject painted Xiao Shuang, who is careful in her words and deeds, lying on the artificial hill, sleeping soundly."

Mr. Zhang praised my work, saying that my brushstrokes are imbued with spirit, the composition is simple and concise, naive and innocent, completely unadorned, reflecting my true self—this is in perfect harmony with the refined way. Given time, I will surely become a master.

Speaking in the standard Hanlin Academy style, Jiajing simply didn't buy it: "Then what did Xu Wei, who taught you to paint, say?"

"Uh—" Zhu Zaizhen scratched his head: "Mr. Xu has always been outspoken and talk nonsense. His views are strange and peculiar. What he said is not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

In fact, Xu Wei's original words were: the lines are soft and weak, the cat shape is drawn in a clumsy and comical way, there is no sense of reality or illusion, and the spirit is shallow. It is purely a beginner's work, without any outstanding features.

At most, you could exchange it for a coarse steamed bun or a few coins, and that would be considered a bargain, especially if the paper was of good quality and you were planning to use it to practice writing and drawing on the back.

But Xu Wei, he knew nothing!

Yan Shifan was extremely fond of the painting. Zhenyan said he would gladly give up the entire Yan mansion to acquire it.

Look at him, otherwise he wouldn't be a junior Grand Secretary. And look at Zhang Juzheng, he was a true child prodigy and scholar.

Xu Wei? Ha, a mere scholar's eye is not worth mentioning.

Zhu Zaizhen steadied himself, bowed again, and said in a frank and earnest tone: "Moreover, the value of external things is secondary. What matters is my respect for my father, which is pure and sincere, and cannot be measured."

Jiajing finally couldn't help but laugh. This was the first time in so many years that Zhu Zaizhen had seen his father laugh like this.

Huang Jin was also grinning from ear to ear. This was why he was more willing to help Prince Jing. He could make His Majesty more like a human being, instead of becoming more and more like a statue on an altar.

"I don't know about your painting, but judging from the seal you made, it's not very good. Even the best painting is ruined by this seal."

Zhu Zaizhen touched the small seal like a precious treasure: "Oh dear, Yan Shifan even wanted to exchange other treasures for this seal, but I couldn't bear to part with it."

Emperor Jiajing was not interested in painting, but he was quite knowledgeable about seals. In addition to official seals such as Guangyun Zhibao and Emperor's Seal, he had more than a dozen private seals, including Ba Biao Dong Wang, Dan Zai Shen Zhong, Xin Di Ming Bai, Chang Chun, Qing Ning, Yi He, Han He, Ning Dao, etc.

"Huang Jin, go and fetch the seal that the Imperial Seal Bureau sent over."

Zhu Zaizhen's eyes lit up: "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the reward."

"Who told you I was going to bestow this upon you?"

"Father wouldn't just ask his son to judge, would he?"

"No, because you wouldn't understand." Jiajing shook his head: "I'll do something elegant with you, let's exchange the seals."

"Ah," Zhu Zaizhen feigned reluctance, "this was carved with all my heart and soul."

"Fine, don't bother changing it then."

"Change!"

Soon, Huang Jin brought over a box made of sandalwood, lacquered in vermilion and decorated with gold cloud and dragon patterns. Following His Majesty's gaze, he presented it to Prince Jing and opened it. Inside, a bright yellow brocade quilt was laid out, and on it lay a small seal.

It appears to be Hetian mutton fat jade, warm and lustrous white, with hidden fluff like hailstones, a cloud-dragon knob with its head raised amidst the clouds, and fine scale patterns, with clouds swirling around it.

The seal face is 3.2 inches square, with the four characters "瑞雪承天" (Ruixue Chengtian) engraved in jade chopstick seal script, the lines are even, round and straight, and consistent from beginning to end.

When the Emperor began his religious rites, Huang Jin specially ordered the Imperial Seal Bureau to carve the seal in advance, so that it could be presented to him on the day the snow fell.

I never expected that this seal would end up in the hands of Prince Jing.

Zhu Zaizhen reached out and took it, then placed his own cautious words and deeds inside. The seal was crooked and twisted. When Huang Jin presented it to Jiajing, he saw the emperor turn his face away with slight disdain.

"From now on, whenever there is an appraisal of calligraphy and painting, this seal will be affixed, especially on Xu Wei's calligraphy and paintings."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zhu Zaizhen appeared pleased, but inwardly he was somewhat troubled. It was really difficult to find an opportunity to ask, since he had come all this way just to get a seal.

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