The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

"death of a prince?"

The Imperial Noble Consort's face was completely drained of color, but she did not collapse. She wanted to see her child, her only child, one more time.

Wang hesitated at every step, but still stepped into the Crown Prince's bedchamber. Those who were awake inside were kneeling on the ground, weeping bitterly. So Wang immediately saw her son, the once spirited Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Her vision gradually blurred, tears streamed down her face, and her legs gave way, almost causing her to collapse. But those around her had anticipated this and quickly supported her.

Wang's voice remained relatively calm: "Help me over there. I want to be with my son. You all go and prepare. Don't worry about me, don't worry about me..."

The Imperial Noble Consort's words were incoherent, but those around her still helped her to sit down next to the Crown Prince. The Noble Consort tenderly touched the Crown Prince's gradually cooling hands and face...

As the news spread, it quickly reached both the palace and the outer court. Palace servants were terrified, court officials were uneasy, and the common people were astonished. Only a few people relaxed.

Meanwhile, in the West Garden, eunuchs Mai Fu, Huang Jin, and others knelt outside the hall: "Your Majesty, we know you are grieving, but at this time you must take care of your health. The entire Ming Dynasty depends on you, the Emperor. The Crown Prince... His Highness the Crown Prince still needs your decree to arrange his funeral..."

Inside the palace, Jiajing, expressionless, stroked his brow and looked at Tao Zhongwen, saying, "Why did my crown prince suddenly fall seriously ill and die? Didn't you foresee this? Didn't Heaven give any warning?"

When Zhu Houcong received news of the Crown Prince's sudden illness, in addition to ordering the imperial physicians to rush to his aid, he also urgently summoned the Taoist priests and ordered them to immediately set up a ritual to pray for his safety. However, the bad news came unexpectedly, and before the ritual could be set up, the Crown Prince passed away.

Tao Zhongwen shook his head: "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the dynasty, a noble destiny. The purple aura obscures the heavenly secrets, making it difficult for me to foresee them. Therefore, I am too incompetent to have anticipated this."

Jiajing looked sorrowful. He had long suffered the pain of losing loved ones, but this time it was his son whom he had raised for more than ten years.

As the emperor grieved, Tao Zhongwen observed cautiously. What he feared most was that the emperor would suddenly realize the truth and no longer believe in immortality and the Dao.

Fortunately, he keenly observed that the emperor was even more afraid of death.

Having realized this, Tao Zhongwen stopped spying. No one is unafraid of the emperor, especially a harsh, ungrateful, capricious, yet powerful emperor.

Tao Zhongwen knew very well that he was dealing with a tiger, but he had already come this far. Could he back down now? If he did, would he survive? He could only continue to appease the emperor.

"Come in!"

Upon the emperor's summons, Mai Fu, Huang Jin, and Yan Song, Lü Ben, Zhang Zhi, Lu Bing, Gao Zhong, and others who had just arrived hurriedly entered the palace.

"Lu Bing, Gao Zhong, you two go and investigate. There's definitely something wrong with the people around the Crown Prince. No, there's something wrong with the entire palace. Investigate thoroughly, and don't let a single one get away with it!"

"promise!"

No one would try to dissuade the emperor at this time, and since the crown prince had passed away so suddenly, the imperial physicians and palace servants who were responsible for his care would certainly be held accountable.

Lu Bing and Gao Zhong left on imperial orders, but the remaining people were having a hard time. After a moment of silence, Yan Song, not daring to speak himself, gestured to Lü Ben with his eyes.

Lu Benyuan was originally the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy in Nanjing. He was only recruited into the cabinet this year, but he was only appointed as Junior Chamberlain and Hanlin Academician. He was not granted the title of Grand Secretary, so he had no confidence to refuse the position to the Grand Secretary.

He could only grit his teeth and say, "Your Majesty, I beg you to take care of yourself and express your grief. The Crown Prince's passing has caused grief throughout the court and shaken the foundations of the nation. At this time, I implore Your Majesty to be roused. The arrangements for His Highness's funeral and posthumous title are all subject to Your Majesty's decree, and we will carry it out accordingly."

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health." After everyone present kowtowed and pleaded, the Jiajing Emperor finally cheered up a little and immediately ordered the court to be suspended for ten days and ordered the Ministry of Rites and other departments to prepare for the Crown Prince's funeral with the highest standards.

With the emperor's decree finalized, the news of the crown prince's death was officially announced. Civil and military officials, dressed in white mourning clothes, black gauze hats, and black horn belts, gathered in front of the East Palace and wept bitterly. The crown prince was also half a father to the emperor, and as his subjects, they had to come and mourn.

Prince Yu and Prince Jing arrived late because their mourning clothes were more solemn, and no one dared to risk the only remaining prince before the cause of the Crown Prince's sudden death was determined.

The emperor is already this old; if the two princes were to also perish, the empire would be plunged into another bloodbath.

Only after it was confirmed that it was neither an epidemic nor poisoning and that no one was attempting assassination were Prince Yu and Prince Jing allowed to come here. Unlike before, everyone's attention was focused on them, especially on Prince Yu.

Zhu Zaiji was somewhat bewildered and at a loss. He felt an overwhelming joy, but even more so, unease. Standing on the ground, facing the gazes of his ministers, his limbs felt weak.

Will I be the crown prince, the future emperor?

Zhu Zaizhen noticed that everyone's attention was focused on Prince Yu, with only a few low-ranking officials staring intently at him, their gazes mostly scrutinizing him. Clearly, no one had made up their minds to bet on him.

That's nothing. Since ancient times, the eldest son of the legitimate wife has been chosen, and if there is no legitimate son, the eldest son of the legitimate wife has been chosen. The so-called "choosing the eldest son of the legitimate wife" is based on the eldest son, not the most virtuous son, and choosing the son of the noble son, not the eldest son.

Neither he nor Prince Yu were born to the Empress. The only thing that matters is seniority. Age is not the same as ability, and this is indisputable.

Zhu Zaizhen didn't think there was anything unfair about it. After all, besides this ancient system, there were also the options of Xuanwu Gate Incident and Jingnan Campaign, which were just the two worst options.

Moreover, this approach could only succeed at the beginning of a dynasty, when princes still held military power and virtue. After Emperor Taizong of this dynasty launched the Jingnan Campaign, this path was basically blocked.

Even if one succeeds by chance, no matter what achievements one makes later, if one's private morality is flawed, one will easily be constrained in every way.

For him, the best solution would be for the emperor to personally appoint him as crown prince, or for his mother to be promoted to empress, so that he could rightfully take the throne as the eldest son of the legitimate wife.

As the officials wept bitterly, another group of weeping people were brought out from a side gate. Lu Bing and Gao Zhong led the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Horse Administration to drag the crowd away, among whom were several imperial physicians.

Of those who went, who knows how many will return alive? Even if they do survive, they will inevitably be injured or disabled, and they will not be able to find a good place to live out their remaining years. How tragic!

In this palace, everyone prospers or suffers together; that's all there is to it.

The crowd wept for two hours before dispersing. For the next few days, they would come here morning and evening to mourn, until the Crown Prince was buried and the funeral rites were held.

Despite being blocked by officials from the Ministry of Rites, Prince Yu and Prince Jing were unable to enter the palace to see the Crown Prince one last time. The two brothers had to return to their own quarters first.

Unlike before, an unspeakable atmosphere filled the area around the two kings, including their eunuchs and other attendants.

The crown prince, who had held the position for more than ten years, died, leaving behind a huge power vacuum. Someone had to take over the position, and the two most qualified people in the world were right there.

...............