Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

Xingwang Mansion, Longfei Hall.

This place is right in the center of the Xingwang Mansion, and it was originally the Chengyun Hall, which was present in every princely mansion.

Lu Chen had only been to this palace once, when he was granted the title of Prince of Ying, and had never been there again since.

Because this place has already been renovated according to the specifications of the imperial palace, it would be overstepping the bounds for a prince to use it.

More than a year later, Lu Chen finally came here again to set up an incense table to welcome the imperial edict from the Jiajing Emperor.

This imperial edict was very formal, and the person who came to deliver it was not an ordinary eunuch, but Bao Zhong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In the Directorate of Ceremonial, besides the Grand Eunuch who was the head of all eunuchs in the country, there were also several scribes, who were equivalent to members of the cabinet in the outer court.

By imperial decree, the Prince of Ying is appointed to assist in overseeing the state!

By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

I believe that emperors throughout history have cultivated themselves to govern and focused their minds to respond to Heaven.

Now, I have encountered a true immortal who has instructed me on profound secrets. I must seclude myself in the Western Garden, sever all worldly ties, renounce worldly affairs, purify my mind and thoughts, and devote myself to cultivation, so as to reach the favor of Heaven and pray for the long-lasting blessings of our ancestors and the nation.

However, the foundation of the nation is of utmost importance, and the best remedy lies in Chongling.

Although I have appointed Crown Prince Zai Rui to oversee the country, reside in the Wenhua Hall, and receive the court's congratulations, I am far from the imperial carriage and live in seclusion. I am concerned that the affairs of state are complex and cannot be decided by a young ruler alone.

The imperial edict is as follows:

Since the day I went into seclusion, all memorials from both within and outside the court have been submitted in accordance with ancestral rules. They are first drafted by the Grand Secretariat, then sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial for approval, and finally presented to the Crown Prince for use.

He ordered Hou Yu, the Prince of Ying, to reside in the capital and assist the Crown Prince.

Before any memorial or document is presented to the Crown Prince for use, it must first be thoroughly reviewed by Hou Yu.

If Hou Yu deliberates on the matter and deems it "unacceptable," he shall immediately return it to the Cabinet and revise the proposal.

Only those deemed "acceptable" were permitted to have the crown prince affix his seal and issue the document.

Although Hou Yu held the important position of regent, he was not allowed to issue decrees directly or interfere in government affairs.

Their duty is to protect and support the virtuous and capable, and to jointly manage the balance of Yin and Yang. Except in major military campaigns, they must not act arbitrarily.

I entrust this important task to you, Yu, just as the body uses the arm, and the arm uses the fingers.

You should devote your utmost loyalty and effort to assist the sovereign, while I will concentrate my mind on the profound mysteries to observe its success.

All my subjects must understand my will. Anyone who dares to presume to know my mind or sow discord among my relatives and vassals will be punished without mercy.

Therefore, it was instructed.

"Your Highness, Prince Ying, please receive the imperial decree."

After the imperial edict was read, Lu Chen was stunned for a long time.

It wasn't until Bao Zhong whispered a reminder that Lu Chen hurriedly accepted the imperial edict by raising both hands above his head in accordance with etiquette.

It has been more than two years since Lu Chen transmigrated to this world, and he has read many books from the Ming Dynasty. He can now understand the contents of the imperial edict directly.

Just now, Wu Xing, the prefect of Chengtian, was begging me to step forward and submit a memorial to the emperor requesting him to abandon his crazy idea of ​​letting the five-year-old crown prince oversee the country while he secluded himself in the West Garden to cultivate in seclusion.

I never expected that this would happen to me so soon.

In another dimension of history, the Jiajing Emperor may have had such thoughts, but they would certainly have been collectively resisted by the entire court.

Even a sycophantic minister like Yan Song would never dare to agree to the absurd decree of letting a five-year-old child oversee the country.

With no one in the court daring to support him, even the Jiajing Emperor could only let the matter drop.

But now, the situation facing the Jiajing Emperor is completely different from the history that Lu Chen knows.

Because there's now one more variable: Lu Chen himself!

According to the imperial genealogy of the Ming Dynasty, he was the son of Prince Xingxian, the younger brother of Emperor Jiajing, and the closest blood relative to the princes.

The five-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi was indeed incapable of overseeing the country, but the twenty-one-year-old Prince Ying, Zhu Houyu, was absolutely capable of it!

What is the content of this imperial edict?

Emperor Jiajing remained determined to retreat to the Western Garden for spiritual cultivation and issued an edict appointing Crown Prince Zhu Zaiyi as regent.

Of course, it would be a joke to actually let a five-year-old handle state affairs.

The imperial edict clearly outlines the procedures for handling state affairs during the emperor's period of seclusion.

All matters of state were first drafted by the cabinet, which was to give its opinion on how to handle them. Then, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs approved them in red, and finally, they were presented to the Crown Prince for his seal.

After these three procedures are completed, it becomes a legitimate imperial edict.

In reality, the real power in the court rests with the cabinet ministers, while the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is responsible for oversight and approval.

The decision that was truly made by the Crown Prince Regent was whether or not to use the seal on the draft proposal that had already been approved by the Directorate of Ceremonial.

But even this step was beyond the capabilities of a five-year-old prince, who could only be assisted by others.

In the mind of the Jiajing Emperor, the most suitable candidate to assist the Crown Prince was Zhu Houyu, the only adult member of the Xing Prince lineage.

This decree actually only granted him one power: the final authority to review whether the Crown Prince should use the seal.

If you think it's "unacceptable," just shut it down and return it to the cabinet for revision.

The crown prince can only use the seal if he believes it is "acceptable".

But then he began to restrict his own power.

The decree explicitly stipulated that he/she must not issue decrees on his/her own or interfere in government affairs.

Unless it is a matter of national importance that cannot be delayed, decisions cannot be made independently; they must first go through the cabinet and the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In other words, he did not have the power to interfere in government affairs or issue decrees.

Only the imperial edict has the final review authority.

To be more precise, it should be a veto power!

. . .

The next day.

"Lord Bao, His Majesty has ordered Master Tao and Duan Chaoyong to jointly oversee the imperial concubine selection, choosing girls aged eight to fourteen?"

Upon hearing Bao Zhong mention this matter, Lu Chen was greatly surprised.

"Why does Your Majesty do this?"

The day after receiving the imperial edict, Lu Chen and Bao Zhong set off from Chengtian Prefecture northward, taking the same route that Emperor Jiajing had taken during his southern tour the previous year.

Since there was an imperial decree ordering him, a prince of a close relative and an adult, to enter the capital to assist the crown prince in overseeing the country, Wu Xing, the prefect of Chengtian, felt it was acceptable and withdrew his request from the previous day.

After delivering the imperial edict, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Secretariat was very respectful to Lu Chen, who then invited him to his princely carriage for a chat.

The topic of conversation was naturally the reason why Emperor Jiajing suddenly decided to go into seclusion for spiritual cultivation.

According to Bao Zhong, the incident began when Guo Xun, the Duke of Yi, and Tao Zhongwen, the "True Man of Divine Firmament, Protecting the Country, Promoting Eminence, Spreading Teachings, Revitalizing the Law, Connecting with Truth, Loyalty, Filial Piety, and Upholding Oneness," jointly recommended a Taoist priest named Duan Chaoyong to the Jiajing Emperor.

Duan Chaoyong was said to have the ability to refine ordinary lead and tin into "immortal silver" and promised to refine 40,000 taels of "immortal silver" every year for offerings.

This person said something that convinced the Jiajing Emperor that as long as he isolated himself from external affairs and devoted himself to cultivation for one or two years, he could attain immortality and achieve eternal life.

The day after summoning Duan Chaoyong, the Jiajing Emperor issued an edict ordering Tao Zhongwen and Duan Chaoyong to jointly oversee the selection of girls aged eight to fourteen.

"Your Highness, according to Master Duan, they intend to extract 'red lead' from these young girls."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's question, Bao Zhong quickly replied,

"To concoct an elixir of immortality for His Majesty."

What?!

Selecting young girls to enter the palace... to obtain "red lead" for alchemy... ?!

Isn't this the trigger for the legendary Renyin Palace Coup?

How is that possible?

What on earth is going on?!