Rule over Ming Dynasty

In the sky, snowflakes fluttered down, like countless tiny petals dancing lightly in the air.

These snowflakes swirled and flew in the air, and below them was a majestic square ancient city, then slowly descended to every corner of the ancient city.

"Snowing!"

Almost at the same time, people in the city, wearing all kinds of clothes, looked up at the sky, and some stretched out their hands to feel the coldness of the snowflakes falling on their palms.

Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest, which carries the expectations of the people of northern Zhili.

However, now that Tongzhou's granaries are well-stocked, with grain supplies from the Northeast, and cheap Korean rice can be purchased at any time, there is no need to worry too much about the grain production in northern Zhili as before.

The first snow of this winter fell at this time, which seemed to indicate that something bad was about to happen.

Regardless of whether it is windy or snowy, important activities in the capital are still going on.

The eunuchs from Guansui Palace came out in full force, and the imperial palace did not stop them, allowing them to go outside and convey the Empress Dowager's decree.

"I am ill and cannot enter the palace!"

This was the unanimous opinion of all the important officials. The officials headed by Yin Zhi ignored the decree of the Empress Dowager at all, and they lacked respect for the Empress Dowager.

If it had been better before, even though the Empress Dowager had behaved inappropriately before, she was still the Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty after all, and as subjects they would naturally respond to the call.

But now she even dares to let her female official set fire to the Qianqing Gate. She is simply a crazy old witch.

Now the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned so many important officials into the palace. One can guess her intentions with just one's toes. This sudden summoning of so many important officials must be aimed at Emperor Hongzhi.

After all, they were not those hypocritical and upright people, but genuine royalists and pragmatic officials of the Ming Dynasty who were dedicated to working for the people.

Not to mention that their hearts are always towards the wise and powerful emperor. Now the Ming Dynasty is opening up a new situation that has not been seen in a thousand years and is growing into the world's maritime hegemon.

The Ming Empire is now thriving and the overseas situation is very good. As important officials of the Ming Dynasty, how could they cause chaos because of an old witch?

It can also be seen from this incident that there are certain drawbacks in Chinese etiquette.

Even the emperor had people and things he could do nothing about. It was clearly the Queen Mother of Zhou who made the mistake first, but because of their blood relationship, he could not do anything to her.

On the contrary, it was the Empress Dowager who came up with another plan when one failed. When these important ministers were summoned to the palace, they still had no idea what tricks the Empress Dowager would come up with.

That was exactly why the eunuchs of Guansui Palace ran into obstacles one after another in the residences of important officials. Important officials such as Yin Zhi simply ignored the Empress Dowager who was only afraid of chaos in the world.

If there was no response from important ministers, even if Empress Dowager Zhou was really wronged, she would have nowhere to complain, and naturally there would be no public opinion that the emperor was unfilial.

It’s just that society is a complex form, and things have become uncertain.

The walls of the Forbidden City appear even more solemn and majestic against the backdrop of snowflakes. Snow accumulates on every glazed tile, as if they were inlaid with silver gems.

In front of the tall and majestic Donghua Gate, snowflakes were falling from the gray sky, and the road ahead was covered with a thin layer of white snow.

"Dad, why don't you listen to my advice?" Jia Xiong personally accompanied his father all the way and said with a bitter face to his father who got off the sedan chair.

Along the way, his persuasion was in vain, and instead he heard his father coughing non-stop.

Although such serious symptoms had occurred a few years ago, his father was recuperating at home at the time, and the emperor specially sent the best doctor from the medical school.

Now that his back disease has relapsed and he has caught a cold, he should stay at home and recuperate. He didn't expect that his father would insist on entering the palace for the so-called favor he had done him in the past.

"Master, be careful!" The butler lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and reached out to support Jia Jun for fear that he would trip.

Jia Jun was wearing a standard official uniform, and his hair had turned completely silver since his last serious illness.

Unlike other officials who live a life of luxury, he has been in charge of engineering projects for many years and has been exposed to the sun and rain, so his skin color is dark and he even has calluses on his hands.

Jia Jun's face looked very thin, but his eyes remained as firm as ever, and he seemed to have a deeper understanding of the world: "My father has made up his mind!"

At this moment, his feet were on the snow, and he looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar Donghuamen, feeling a bit dazed.

He was young, full of vigor and ambition, and had a pure heart to serve his country. But the reality is cruel after all. Even if he has superb architectural talent, it is impossible to climb up without any stain.

The political ecology in the past was actually very different from that of today. At that time, the Qingliu Party was still in power and had an influence in the harem that was difficult for outsiders to imagine.

It is nothing like today, where a wise ruler sits in the court and makes decisions with a single word, brave ministers are busy expanding territory for the Ming Dynasty all over the world, and all civil and military officials in the court are working hard.

If he were born in this dynasty, he would also be willing to be an upright person, an official who was willing to travel across the oceans to expand territory and business for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, but back then he did follow the path of Empress Dowager Zhou by relying on his family connections.

"Dad, even if the Empress Dowager was kind to our family in the past, His Majesty has also been very kind to our family over the years. We can't do anything to let His Majesty down. What's more, the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty is all thanks to Your Majesty. Who in the world doesn't call you a holy monarch?" Jia Xiong still didn't give up and continued to dissuade him.

Although his father's entry into the palace this time was to repay the Empress Dowager's kindness in the past, he was actually unworthy of the Emperor's favor over the years, and even unworthy of the people of the world.

Now that the Ming Dynasty has such a good momentum of development, no matter who causes the domestic unrest, he will be the eternal sinner of China.

Jia Jun closed his eyes slightly, looked at the worried Eunuch Chen and said, "Eunuch Chen, please lead the way!"

"Lord Jia, please!" Eunuch Chen was afraid that Jia Jun would go back on his word. After all, other important ministers had already refused the Empress Dowager's summons. He also made a gesture with a smile on his face.

At this time, the north wind was strong, and countless snowflakes changed their trajectory and blew down on them. "Eunuch Chen, my father is indeed seriously ill. I would like to ask for your help to go to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager!" Jia Xiong saw that his persuasion was fruitless, so he had to give in and said the next best thing.

Eunuch Chen glanced at Jia Jun and immediately refused arrogantly, "The Empress Dowager did not summon you, and you seem to be only a seventh-rank official, right?"

It was simply a fantasy that a small seventh-rank official wanted to pay a visit to the Empress Dowager.

Jia Junqiang propped himself up and waved his hand to his son who was about to say something: "Father can go! You let Ah Fu and the others stay here, you go home and wait, don't catch a cold, we still have to have someone to take care of the affairs at home!"

Jia Xiong was a filial son, and seeing his father still caring about him in such a state, his eyes were immediately wet with tears. However, the north wind blew the snowflakes wildly, and no one noticed his eyes at this time.

But he was still very puzzled. The Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager were simply one above and one below. How could his father stand on the side of the Grand Empress Dowager?
Because Jia Jun was ill, he was the only one who went to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager, so he was traveling alone, and the journey was particularly difficult and lonely.

Forbidden City, Guansui Palace.

Although this palace located near Qingning Palace was also invaded by snowflakes, it was not cleared like other palaces, resulting in a thick layer of white snow accumulating on the road.

Empress Dowager Zhou was in good condition and was enjoying dessert leisurely.

Bad news kept coming back, and important ministers such as the Prime Minister Yin Tai of the Cabinet all claimed to be ill and refused to respond to the call. However, her face looked very calm, and even if she wanted to smash something, there was nothing to smash.

At this moment, she also realized that she had underestimated this emperor who liked to hide in the closet since he was a child. If she had known that Zhu Youtang was so difficult to control, she and the foreign ministers might as well have supported Prince Xing Zhu Youlang to ascend the throne.

But it was too late. The emperor, who was brought up by him, not only escaped from his control, but his wings were now completely strong.

"If they don't want to come, then they won't come. This tyrant deserves his reputation! But the people of the world are afraid of him, but I am not. Even if he says so, he is my grandson!"

The eunuchs who came back to report were originally afraid that the Empress Dowager would go crazy and smash things again, but they didn't expect that Empress Dowager Zhou seemed very calm, and even a little proud.

In fact, this is also a fact.

In the conflict between the Empress Dowager Zhou and the Emperor, the Emperor was naturally at a disadvantage. Not to mention that the Emperor did not dare to be aggressive, even if the Empress Dowager Zhou made any mistakes, the outside world and history books would definitely think that the Emperor was unfilial.

It was at this time that Eunuch Chen came back happily to report, and then proudly brought Jia Jun in.

Empress Dowager Zhou regained hope and had the pearl curtain raised. She looked at Jia Jun, who was kneeling in, with joy and praised him solemnly, "Among all the civil and military officials in the court, only Mr. Jia is a loyal minister to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Grand Empress Dowager, please forgive me for speaking frankly! If I were the only loyal minister in the court, there would be no prosperous world today, no Ming Dynasty dominating the world, and no Ming Dynasty at its peak today!" There was no joy on Jia Jun's face, but he spoke seriously about the current situation of the Ming Dynasty.

The smile on Empress Dowager Zhou's face immediately disappeared, and she said in a very unhappy tone: "Lord Jia, what do you mean by this? Is there something else behind your words?"

"Your Majesty is a wise ruler. You have created a situation that has not been seen in nearly a thousand years. I ask the Empress Dowager to live in harmony with Your Majesty and create a more glorious future for the Ming Dynasty!" Jia Jun was eager to be a peacemaker to repay the Empress Dowager, so he raised his head and bowed solemnly.

Although he did receive the favor of the Empress Dowager in the past, it was impossible for him to stand against the emperor, let alone disrupt the current development trend. He entered the palace this time only hoping that the Empress Dowager would reconcile with the emperor.

The Empress Dowager's face darkened instantly, and she looked at Jia Jun who was kneeling on the ground: "Jia Jun, have you forgotten the kindness I showed you in supporting me?"

"I dare not forget, and I have not forgotten! However, the Ming Dynasty is now powerful and influential, and the emperor has great ambitions. How dare I cause chaos!" Jia Jun is not an ungrateful person, but he also made his position clear.

Gratitude is one thing, but national justice is another. After all, he can clearly tell which is more important.

cough……

Eunuch Chen, who was standing by, saw that Empress Dowager Zhou was almost out of control and also coughed lightly.

Empress Dowager Zhou realized that Jia Jun in front of her was her only hope, so she suppressed her anger and said, "Who told you to cause trouble? You can see that I am the dignified Empress Dowager, but now I live in a small palace, and the eunuchs and maids around me have been replaced. The emperor and empress clearly want to imprison me!"

Confinement?

The palace maids present looked at each other but dared not say a word.

If she, the Empress Dowager, was really imprisoned, then she would not be able to pass down a single imperial decree, instead of being able to summon important officials at will and meet with the cabinet elder Jia Jun in front of her.

"Grand Empress Dowager, Qingning Palace was burned down by the traitor He Shangguan. It is a temporary expedient to temporarily live in Guansui Palace. The court has included the reconstruction of Qingning Palace in next year's budget. I believe the new palace will be completed soon. I hope that the Grand Empress Dowager can sympathize with your majesty's difficulties!"

This fire burned down the Qingning Palace. Now if we want to find another palace of the same model in the Forbidden City, the only ones are the Empress' Kunning Palace and the Empress Dowager's Renshou Palace.

However, Kunning Palace was behind Jiaotai Palace and was also in the inner palace area, so naturally only the queen was suitable to live there. As for Queen Mother Wang's Renshou Palace, where could she live if she gave up Renshou Palace?

"You can leave my bedroom aside for now, but all my people must be returned without a single one missing. They are trying to cut off my eyes and ears and imprison me!" Seeing that she could not make a fuss about the bedroom, Empress Dowager Zhou immediately decided to take back her confidants.

Jia Jun knew that this was the direct reason why the Grand Empress Dowager suddenly summoned the important officials, and he also tried to dissuade them, saying, "Grand Empress Dowager, the matter of Concubine He setting fire to the Qianqing Gate is already known to the whole city. According to her account, she had accomplices, so how can we not investigate these servants who intended to murder the emperor? Now we are investigating the loyalty and treachery of the old people in the Qingning Palace, not only to prevent another assassination of the emperor, but also to protect the Grand Empress Dowager. I hope the Grand Empress Dowager will show sympathy!"

"Haha...you want me to sympathize with you again! Your heart is really with the emperor!" Empress Dowager Zhou suddenly laughed out of anger, and said in a sarcastic tone.

Jia Jun's heart was indeed with Emperor Hongzhi, but he still said earnestly: "Grand Empress Dowager, what I said is objective fact. I hope that the Grand Empress Dowager can sympathize with the arrangements of the Emperor and the Empress!"

"What if I don't show sympathy?" Empress Dowager Zhou narrowed her eyes and said in a cold voice, leaving no room for negotiation.

The reason why she made such a big fuss today and sent people to summon all the important officials in the court was not to listen to Jia Jun's advice, but to let Jia Jun publicize to the outside world that the emperor had mistreated her, the imperial grandmother, and imprisoned her.

She wanted to bring disgrace to Emperor Hongzhi Zhu Youtang and make him branded as an unfilial person.

As soon as these words came out, the maids around felt that Mars was about to hit the Earth, and they silently turned their heads to look at Jia Jun, who seemed to have expected this. (End of this chapter)