The heavens begin with the Dharma of absorbing power.

Chapter 401: Three things happened after the emperor’s death, and he changed from the fifth rank in half a year

In August of the 23rd year of Chenghua, the Jingyang Bell rang, announcing to the world that the Ming Emperor had passed away.

Xu Xinde called him into the palace at night and saw that the emperor Zhu Jianshen, who had indulged in excessive sexual activities during this period, was lying quietly in the coffin. Sure enough, a man will only become honest if he hangs himself on the wall.

For the emperor's death, Xu Xin must be held responsible.

He saw the emperor's physical condition but without any warning, he stole Concubine Shu, making the emperor think that he was in better health and could make the concubine pregnant with dragon seeds. After a few months of indulgence, he... Cool.

"Your Highness!"

When Xu Xin came to the side of the prince Zhu Youtang, he could see that the young prince had a stubble on his face, and his whole person exuded a sense of dejection.

"Mr. Wang, my father left too fast!"

Someone next to him spoke, it was the tenth prince Zhu Wuwu. He was also the most respected by the prince among his many brothers.

After Liu Xi was executed, Zhu Wuwu gradually came to prominence. It seemed that the emperor also wanted to include him in the genealogy list. Who knew that at this time, the emperor suddenly fell seriously ill and passed away. This made Zhu Wuwu particularly sad. He didn't know it was because of his death. Dad is so sad that he is still sad that he can’t join the clan all of a sudden.

"Shouren, you're here!"

Zhu Youtang turned to look at Xu Xin. Ever since Zhu Jianshen became seriously ill, he had been staying with the emperor to take care of him and sent his father on his last journey. Until now, his mind is foggy and he is not ready to take over the throne.

Really speaking, he, Zhu Youtang, is only eighteen years old this year. Is he about to take charge of his own affairs and become the new owner of the Forbidden City and the new generation emperor of the Ming Dynasty?

Under the "Upright and Bright" plaque in the main hall of Qianqing Palace, there is a spiritual tree parked in the center, surrounded by spiritual flags. There are maids, eunuchs and concubines burning gold and silver paper money in front of the candlestick in mourning.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty's funeral arrangements and some of the instructions he gave you during his lifetime must be properly handled..."

Xu Xin had already changed into white clothes with the help of the palace maid, and Zhu Youtang nodded after hearing his words. Filial piety comes first. Even if the country cannot be without a king for a day, it must finish the funeral first.

However, the emperor's funeral has already been planned and is being handled in an orderly manner.

"I will pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

When Xu Xin followed Zhu Youtang to Dongnuang Pavilion, the senior officials of the outer court, headed by Wan An of the cabinet, paid homage one after another.

Zhu Youtang's reaction was very dull. Xu Xin also looked at the group of ministers in front of him. They all looked human-like. In fact, there was no loyalty or corruption. They just wanted to see if they could do practical things.

"Grandson, have you forgotten how grandma teaches you on weekdays? You still don't want to let all the ministers live in peace!"

At this time, a sudden female voice sounded next to him. Xu Xin looked around and saw that it was the Empress Dowager Zhou, the biological mother of Chenghua Emperor Zhu Jianshen who had raised Prince Zhu Youtang.

The Empress Dowager Zhou avoided Concubine Wan Gui during the reign of Emperor Chenghua, and her presence has never been high. Now that Concubine Wan Gui and the emperor are dead, she seems to have become active. Is she preparing to win over the officials of the foreign court? What do you want to do? Listening to politics behind the curtain?

After thinking for a moment, Xu Xin seemed to have figured out some clues. The Queen Mother Zhou had never been an honest woman. During the Chenghua Dynasty, she had roped in foreign court officials to stand up for her.

She was a concubine of Zhu Qizhen, the "God of War of the Ming Dynasty". The eldest son of the emperor Zhu Jianshen she gave birth to was later named the prince. After Zhu Jianshen came to the throne, she went through a lot of struggle before she was named the queen mother. However, the Queen Mother Zhou was not yet Satisfied, Queen Qian, who had always wanted to replace Zhu Qizhen, became Zhu Qizhen's legitimate queen.

It is normal for women to fight for a status all their lives in this era. But the Queen Mother Zhou couldn't wait to show her power after her son's death, which was not a good thing for the prince's succession. Xu Xin thought for a moment and quietly resigned from the prince. Shortly after he walked out of the attic, Cao Zhengchun, who received the signal from his eyes, also walked out.

Xu Xin whispered a few words beside Cao Zhengchun, and Eunuch Cao turned around and went into the attic to report the matter. Not long after, I heard that the previously flattering voice of the Queen Mother disappeared, and the voice of Prince Zhu Youtang sounded, very loud and powerful.

"Emperor Daxing is agile and intelligent, and he can be the emperor of the constitution. When he is in charge of the party and is determined, he is called Su, when Zhengji takes the picture, he is called Su, and when Weidek is strong, he is called Su, so he can be named: Emperor Xianzong Su!"

"Shang Shu Zhou, we ministers should seek mercy from facts. You are so ostentatious and ignore the shortcomings of the court..."

The speaker was a Hanlin scholar and Zhu Youtang's nominal teacher, which made him frown greatly.

Xu Xueshi, who usually talks to me in a friendly manner and has a low sense of presence, jumped out when his father died. Is it because he, the emperor, is about to succeed to the throne, and he, the nominal teacher, should rise with the tide?

The Minister of Rites proposed the posthumous title in a relatively fair manner, but a group of officials led by Hanlin bachelors opposed it. Both sides insisted on their own opinions and started arguing. In the end, even cabinet bachelors Wan An and Liu Ji joined in.

Zhu Youtang silently watched the arguing ministers, and finally decided on the emperor's posthumous title, making a compromise.

The temple name of Emperor Chenghua Zhu Jianshen is: Emperor Xianzong of Ming Dynasty. His full title is Emperor Jitian Ning Daocheng Mingren revered Wensu Wu Hongde Sheng Xiaochun.

At this time, Empress Dowager Zhou had stopped talking. Cao Zhengchun had reported something when he went in before, and nodded implicitly to Empress Dowager Zhou. Facing the eunuch who had fought with Liu Xi a few months ago, Empress Dowager Zhou remained honest. Let the prince establish his majesty.

"Shouren, I still have to thank you for what happened earlier! Without your help, I really don't know how to deal with these things!"

When Prince Zhu Youtang came out with Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wuwu, Xu Xin hurriedly greeted them. Zhu Youtang's words seemed sincere, and Xu Xin also responded very respectfully.

That night, His Royal Highness personally kept vigil for the emperor, and Xu entered the palace again and went to the chamber of Concubine Shu.

Concubine Shu's palace is full of white clothes. In fact, the maids of the imperial palace are like this everywhere these days. When the emperor dies, great things must be done.

Murong Shu's side is relatively good, because she is still pregnant with a dragon fetus, so she is not affected too much. Like some concubines who have no heirs, their future is really uncertain.

Although Zhu Qizhen abolished the burial system decades ago at the end of his reign, after the emperor's death, the situation of the concubines without children would not be much better. A miserable life.

"Wang Lang, I'm a little scared. The child seems to be kicking me these days!"

Murong Shu nestled in Xu Xin's arms. Her sleep was not very good these days, and she often felt flustered and depressed.

Xu Xin carefully comforted him and spent the whole night in the palace. Then the next day, he got up from the emperor's dragon bed, served by the prince and his aunt, and went to see the prince again.

In the twenty-third year of Chenghua, the biggest event was the emperor's funeral and the crown prince's succession. He was involved in both of these events, but his official position remained unchanged. But everyone knows that this little king champion Jian is in the emperor's heart and will definitely be used in the future.

Sure enough, in the first month of the first year of Hongzhi, the imperial edict came from the palace, promoting Xu Xin to the rank of bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. From the fifth rank, he was on the same level as Wang Hua, the number one scholar in the imperial family, who was the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy.

(End of this chapter)