The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

"I don't care about others," Consort Kang said through gritted teeth, "We must prevent Zhao Jingxian from going to rely on Lady Lu. You should arrange for someone to meet with her. As long as she is sensible, she can remain a court lady."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Kang Hai immediately replied, "This servant will find an opportunity to see her in person and will certainly convey Her Majesty's wishes to her."

Among the palace ladies-in-waiting, Zhao Jingxian held the highest position. She was originally Empress Xiaolie's personal maid and served as a Shanggong (a high-ranking official) in the Shanggong Bureau for more than ten years. She also participated in saving the emperor during the Renyin Palace Coup and was highly meritorious, making her far superior to ordinary palace maids.

To demote someone, one had to ask the emperor's opinion, which is why she was able to remain in her position as the head of the female officials even after Empress Xiaolie passed away.

Everything that could be arranged has been arranged. Consort Kang is now eagerly awaiting the day her son is named Crown Prince. Then, she and her son will finally be able to hold their heads high and no longer have to be beholden to others...

During the ensuing mourning period, the emperor personally bestowed upon the crown prince the posthumous title of Zhuangjing, which was promulgated throughout the land. The palace and its surroundings were filled with white mourning clothes and the sounds of weeping. The Ministry of Rites led civil and military officials in performing mourning rites for the crown prince day after day, until the vast majority of people accepted this reality.

The court and the public began to discuss the selection of the crown prince in private. Although the emperor firmly believed that he could become an immortal and live forever, the officials and the people did not believe it. In fact, many people thought that the emperor might not have many years left if he continued to take elixirs.

Therefore, it was urgent and beneficial to the stability of the country to establish an heir apparent as soon as possible. With this belief, the young officials began to contact each other and prepare to jointly advise the emperor to establish an heir apparent.

The Hanlin Academy had the most such figures. It was the nation's talent pool, gathering successive generations of scholars who had passed the imperial examinations. The future Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and the Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries would all emerge from here. They always took the nation's affairs as their responsibility.

"Uncle, how about we go see Minister Xu together? If we submit a joint memorial, it will surely help His Majesty appoint an heir apparent soon, thus pacifying the entire nation."

Under the well pavilion in front of the Hanlin Academy's Compilation and Inspection Hall, Hanlin compilers and probationary scholars dressed in official robes gathered together. The speaker was Zhao Fengchun, a second-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) of the Dingwei year of the Jiajing reign (1547).

The person he was questioning was his fellow townsman and contemporary, the youngest probationary official present. He was tall, handsome, with bright eyes, a high nose, a wide mouth, and a neat short beard. His name was Zhang Juzheng.

All eyes turned to him. No matter the situation, this young man always gave off an air of calm and composure.

This stillness is not cowardice, but a powerful confidence that comes from having a clear plan in mind and waiting for the right opportunity, which is quite infectious.

Therefore, even in the Hanlin Academy where top scholars were everywhere, no one looked down on this junior scholar. After all, he was selected into the Hanlin Academy at the age of twenty-two as the ninth in the second class. He was so young, and his speech, writing, and judgment were all excellent. If he persevered, he should be able to make it.

The top scholar in his year, Li Chunfang, was fourteen years older than him, and the only one younger than him was Wang Shizhen, who ranked eightieth in the second class.

However, Zhang Juzheng's mind was not on this matter at the time. He was writing a political treatise to submit to the court to address the current problems of the country. Compared with this matter, the issue of the crown prince was not urgent.

But when faced with the same question from his peers, he could only reply: "Of course, but Minister Xu is not on duty at the Hanlin Academy today. It would be against regulations for us to go to the Ministry of Rites without authorization."

Xu Jie was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites and concurrently head of the Hanlin Academy. He would only come to the Hanlin Academy to work when there was nothing important to do at the Ministry of Rites.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and it was decided that two people would go on behalf of the group at noon. Zhang Juzheng, however, did not step forward. He was a very pragmatic person and did not want to get involved in such matters too early.

Moreover, given his low rank and limited influence, even if Prince Yu were to ascend to the throne, he would be grateful to the Grand Secretaries and Ministers, not to a mere probationary official who doesn't even hold a proper rank.

Moreover, he had a vague premonition that this matter would not be so easy. Back then, it took His Majesty several years to get the Crown Prince out of the palace. Now that a new heir is to be established, how could it be done in one fell swoop?

After everyone dispersed, Zhang Juzheng and Li Fengchun returned to the Kongmu Hall together. This hall was responsible for the specific proofreading, copying, and transcription of court documents, which was the main job of these probationary scholars. They began to understand the operation of the court through these documents, and this year was their third year in the Hanlin Academy.

"Uncle, why don't you volunteer to go and pay your respects to Minister Xu?" Zhao Fengchun asked with a puzzled expression as he sat down and began copying. "Minister Xu has always looked at you with special regard and has high expectations for you."

Zhang Juzheng had already finished his work. For him, the work at the Hanlin Academy was really simple. He took some documents from Zhao Fengchun's case, copied them for him, and explained, "We have only been in the Hanlin Academy for a short time and our ranks have not yet been determined, while Brother Li and Brother Zhang have been working for six or seven years. At this time, why should we take their opportunities?"

The Hanlin Academy was not a place for ordinary people to enter. In each imperial examination, only the top three candidates in the first rank could enter the Hanlin Academy directly without examination and were appointed as compilers of the sixth rank and editors of the seventh rank.

Other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) had to pass an examination to enter the Hanlin Academy, and they were only unranked Shujishi (junior scholars). After three years of study, they could take an examination to determine their future. Those who performed well could be officially retained in the Hanlin Academy and promoted to Hanlin Academy editors, catching up with the starting point of the first-class Jinshi.

Those with average grades might be assigned to the Six Ministries as Censors, or to the Censorate as Censors, or some might be assigned to various ministries as Principal Officers.

A very small number of unqualified individuals may be transferred to local government positions or dismissed from their posts.

Zhao Fengchun was a kind-hearted man, and after thinking about it, he realized that it made sense. Moreover, the Hanlin Academy was a place where seniority mattered, and only when those above were promoted could they fill the vacancies; otherwise, they could only endure the hardships along with them.

Speaking of this, it's inevitable to mention their top scholar of the year. Zhao Fengchun put down his pen and said, "I've heard that Brother Zishi is highly regarded by His Majesty and has a promising future. Unlike us, we haven't even had the chance to see the Emperor's face yet."

Speaking of Li Chunfang, no one can help but envy him. Although he is only a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, anyone who can stay in the Western Garden for a long time to accompany the emperor and write Qingci (a type of official document) will at least become a high-ranking official in the future. If things go smoothly, he can go directly into the Grand Secretariat. His career path is almost without any obstacles.

Even Zhang Juzheng, who considered himself a hero, couldn't help but feel envious of such an opportunity. It wasn't so much his rank or future prospects that he envied, but rather his ability to frequently see the emperor and display his talents and ambitions.

However, he couldn't bring himself to write a eulogy to flatter the monarch, and in this regard, he was no match for Li Chunfang's shrewdness. He could only hope that his political essay would be a resounding success, thus giving him a chance to make a name for himself.

Instead of wasting one's youth in the Hanlin Academy, if one waits until youth fades and ambition is lost, one is merely a piece of rotten wood, how can one be a pillar of the nation.

Meanwhile, in the Hanlin Academy's Compilation Hall, Gao Gong, a 36-year-old Hanlin Compiler, was still handling affairs. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 20th year of the Jiajing reign and had been an official in the Hanlin Academy for eight years.

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