The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Zhu Zaizhen began to savor his breakfast slowly, which he found somewhat unusual. When it came to eating, he preferred to eat large mouthfuls to truly enjoy it.

"From now on, there's no need to serve anything so sweet. You and your partner can share this honeydew cheese."

Honey-flavored cheese crisps are delicious, but too much sweetness can cause cavities, and toothaches are a real pain. There aren't many safe and good treatments available at that point; you can only rely on avoiding certain foods in advance and brushing your teeth properly.

Lady Liu was somewhat surprised, as this was His Highness's favorite dish, but she didn't say anything. His Highness was grown up and had his own ideas; she couldn't restrict him in everything, especially such a small matter.

"Thank you, Your Highness. My servant and I are in for a treat today."

After finishing his meal, rinsing his mouth and changing his clothes, Zhu Zaizhen slowly made his way to Fengtian Gate. In truth, he couldn't go fast even if he wanted to. Wearing a heavy leather cap, he looked solemn and dignified, but it also made it difficult for him to move.

The headdress is made of black gauze with seven seams in the front and back, each seam adorned with seven red, white, and blue jade beads. The body is covered with a crimson gauze upper garment and lower garment, a red knee-covering, a leather scarlet belt, and two sets of jade pendants tied at the waist with gold hooks and jade tassels, which make a crisp sound when walking.

If this outfit were placed in later generations, it would definitely be considered a first-class cultural relic.

Prince Yu had already arrived at Fengtian Gate, while the officials were obviously earlier, especially the officials from the Ministry of Rites, who all looked sallow, but were in high spirits. The emperor favored the Taoist priests, and the Ministry of Rites had not had any major matters to attend to for a long time.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness Prince Jing." The large group of ministers took a moment to give Prince Jing a perfunctory reply.

Zhu Zaizhen couldn't help but sigh, "With so many civil and military officials, not even one is willing to serve in a neglected position. This shows how secure the position of the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty is."

"No need for formalities." Zhu Zaizhen didn't intend to show anything. After replying, he walked to Prince Yu's side, greeted several elders of the imperial clan, and then watched the commotion.

As they watched, they grew bored, but could only stare blankly. Finally, the appointed time arrived, and Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi, escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, arrived in a palanquin adorned in imperial robes. His crown was dazzling, his bearing imposing, and his kingly aura was palpable.

The Crown Prince alighted from his carriage, holding a white jade tablet in both hands. Xu Jie, the Minister of Rites, personally served as the announcer. He first bowed towards the West Garden, then solemnly knelt before the Crown Prince: "Your subject, Xu Jie, today serves as the announcer and leads the assembled officials in offering congratulations to His Highness the Crown Prince."

The crown prince stood motionless like a statue, his face hidden beneath the nine tassels, making it impossible for anyone to see clearly.

After bowing, Xu Jie stood facing the assembled officials and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, having completed your coming-of-age ceremony and attained the qualities of a virtuous prince, is now honored with the third auspicious occasion and is destined to receive great blessings."

"We, your humble servants, are overjoyed and, leading all officials, respectfully perform the five bows and three kowtows to congratulate Your Highness on this joyous occasion of coming of age."

"bye!"

Everyone bowed to the Crown Prince and took a step back. Then they knelt on their left foot first, then bent their right foot, put their hands together and raised them high to press on the ground, touching their heads to their hands, which was considered a bow.

"prosper!"

The ministers first rose with their right foot, placing both hands on their knees, then rose with their left foot and stepped forward to stand still.

"bye!"

Zhu Zaizhen followed the crowd, taking a step back, bowing, and then kowtowing. However, his heart was not at peace.

"prosper!"

The group's actions were perfectly synchronized, dignified and elegant, which was undoubtedly extremely pleasing to the eye in the Crown Prince's eyes.

"bye!"

Yan Song was slightly out of breath; after all, he was a man in his seventies, and standing up like this was really too much for him.

"prosper!"

Prince Yu counted the number of times he had bowed, feeling that it was finally almost over, but the atmosphere made him uneasy.

"bye!"

Xu Jie's voice was clear and resonant. As he watched the officials follow his instructions, his face flushed. This was the ideal scene: leading the officials to serve the monarch, returning power and influence to the emperor, delegating government affairs to various departments, and spreading good governance to the local areas.

"bye!"

After the final bow, the officials did not rise, but remained kneeling upright and adjusted their court robes and crowns.

"I kowtow!"

After everyone knelt down, they placed their hands on the ground to support themselves, and slowly touched their heads to the ground, bowing three times with their hands in front and their heads behind.

"The ceremony is complete!"

"Your Highness, we offer our congratulations! May Your Highness live a thousand years!"

The roar of applause came like crashing waves, and the Crown Prince felt a little dizzy and almost couldn't stand up, but he still forced himself to maintain his composure and face the praise of the courtiers with perfect posture.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies, who had been observing the ceremony, stepped forward and announced the imperial edict: "The ceremony is complete. I am very pleased. I bestow upon the Grand Secretaries and Lecturers silver coins with the character '福' (fortune/blessing) and hold a banquet for all officials in the Wuying Hall."

"Your Majesty, we kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor!"

In the Wuying Hall, the Crown Prince drank a cup and then left, followed closely by Prince Yu and Prince Jing. They were still young and not suited to drinking and making merry.

Meanwhile, the civil and military officials drank heartily, especially the upright officials, who would occasionally gather together and look at the Grand Secretary Yan Song with strange eyes.

…………

The next morning, the prince lay on the exquisitely crafted sandalwood bed with a furrowed brow, his face covered in sweat and his hands and feet trembling slightly, but he could not wake up no matter what he did.

The eunuch in charge of the ceremony, upon noticing this, dared not make any rash moves and hurriedly went to summon the prince's attendant and wet nurse.

The Crown Prince's attendant, surnamed Ma, was once an old servant in the Prince of Xing's mansion and also served as a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial. Because of his outstanding talent and skill in etiquette, he was personally appointed by the emperor as the Crown Prince's attendant.

"Summon the imperial physician immediately!" Eunuch Ma held his breath, carefully observing the crown prince's condition before softly calling, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness?"

The prince suddenly opened his eyes, feeling dizzy, lightheaded, with palpitations and shortness of breath. He couldn't even speak for a moment: "I...I feel unwell, Your...Your Excellency, please summon the imperial physician...Quickly!"

"Your Highness, I have already sent someone to invite them." After reassuring the Crown Prince, Ma Qiao turned to the Crown Prince and said, "Quickly, send a few more, and summon all those on duty from the Imperial Hospital!"

The wet nurse beside him hurriedly ordered, "Young Master's condition is quite serious, go and report to His Majesty and the Empress immediately!"

"promise!"

One after another, the eunuchs rushed out, but the crown prince had already begun to convulse. When the imperial physician finally arrived, the panting imperial physician's face turned pale as soon as he took the prince's pulse, even worse than the prince's.

The pulse is rapid and disordered, like beans jumping in a plate, rapid and indistinct. This is the crown prince's terminal pulse, and most likely it is also his terminal pulse.

Before any rescue could be administered, the pulse suddenly disappeared, and the prince muttered, "My son is gone," before passing away abruptly.

When Eunuch Ma pushed aside the imperial physician's trembling hand to check the prince's breath, the prince's wet nurse and several maids fainted upon seeing this and fell heavily to the ground, but no one paid any attention.

"Your Highness! Ah... Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Everyone in the hall knelt down heavily, grief and fear spreading. No one knew how the enraged emperor would deal with them; the unknown was even more terrifying than death itself.

The Imperial Noble Consort, who rushed over, had her hair ornaments askew, but upon hearing the wailing coming from inside the hall, she dared not step inside. Her face pale, she grabbed the hand of the lady-in-waiting beside her and gripped it tightly, asking, "My son... the Crown Prince is alright, isn't he? Tell them to stop crying inside, it's bad luck, it's bad luck! Tell them to shut up!"

The female official, her eyes brimming with tears, trembled and could only stammer, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty."

An even more piercing cry rang out from inside the hall: "His Highness the Crown Prince has passed away!"

…………