Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 135 Emperor Wanli’s surveillance! A scrawled crown prince ceremony!
It is the first day of October in the nineteenth year of Wanli.

Under the fluttering wings of butterflies, this should have been a day of "universal celebration".

Because on this day, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty was finally registered!
However, facts have proven that on this day when "heaven and earth are celebrating", the only people who are truly "happy" are probably the bureaucrats and scholar-bureaucrats who have won the final "victory" again.

After all, 'everyone' knows that His Majesty the Emperor does not like the eldest son.

After all, everyone knows that no matter who becomes the prince or emperor in the old Zhu family, it will not affect the Ming court——

——'One more hardship for the common people'.

As for who will bear the infamy?
If it is far away, His Majesty the Emperor will naturally be responsible for it; if it is nearby, then only the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, who is the head of hundreds of officials, will be responsible.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The solemn sound of bells and drums representing the appointment of the Crown Prince resounded throughout the entire Shuntian Prefecture capital!
The common people in the capital were still a little excited.

Although everyone didn't know what they were excited about, it was still a trace of life in these calm days.

One day after the ceremony, his nearly 40-year-old waist almost broke. As soon as he got home, he cursed and complained to his son-in-law Zhang Chonghui about what happened at the canonization ceremony.

"This is the crown prince! Nowadays, there are only a few officials in the court. Such an important ceremony only lasts for more than ten days. How can it be prepared properly?"

Faced with such a puzzling question, Zhao Shizhen was also stunned: "Ah...ah?"

"The matter of establishing a prince was so carelessly done. It's a good thing that Wu Fanbang stayed in Honglu Temple, otherwise it would be really embarrassing and thrown into a foreign country!"

"My dear son-in-law, you don't know that today's ceremony was a complete mess. Some people even wore the wrong auspicious clothes!"

Zhao Shizhen was nagging endlessly. Zhang Chonghui seemed to be listening attentively, but only he himself knew whether he had listened or not.

But at this moment, the serious look from his son-in-law actually made Zhao Shizhen feel...

Qianqing Palace.

"Master Yue Zhang, please forgive me!" Zhang Chonghui's eyes were full of seriousness and he said: "You have been in Honglu Temple for many years and have never been promoted. In fact, this is not your problem, but that you are going in the wrong direction. !”

Zhao Shizhen finally finished complaining. At this moment, Zhang Chonghui finally had time to intervene.

"My father-in-law." Zhang Chonghui suddenly asked seriously: "Do you want to make progress?"

"..."

It seems like the other party 'has a way'?

"What... what?" This was the first time that Zhao Shizhen heard his son-in-law take the initiative to talk to him about officialdom. Being so 'evaluated' by a thirteen-year-old child, he should have felt ashamed and angry because of his bad temper.

……

"I just don't understand. Anyway, the imperial edict has been issued, and the establishment of the crown prince is a certainty. Why are the cabinet and the six ministries so anxious to carry out the canonization ceremony?"

"Master-in-law!" Zhang Chonghui did not wait for Zhao Shizhen to answer, but still looked at him solemnly, and said seriously:
"The Ming Dynasty is about to go to war! Your chance to be promoted is here!"

On such an important day as the establishment of a crown prince, Zhao Shizhen, as the chief registrar of Honglu Temple, naturally could not miss it.

However, Zhao Shizhen's character made him very unpopular. Officialdom was a 'place', and it was impossible to get along with him if he was not popular.

Therefore, after so many years, Zhao Shizhen was always depressed and frustrated. When he had no time to spare, he began to study guns and gunpowder.

progress? For Zhao Shizhen, who had been in the officialdom for so many years but was still just the chief registrar of Honglu Temple, he dreamed of being promoted.

Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun, who had been working hard all day, was now spreading his hands, waiting for the palace attendants to take off his complicated auspicious clothes after the canonization ceremony.

Establishing a crown prince is no small matter. No matter how unhappy Zhu Yijun is, he, the Ming Emperor, has to be present in person.

However, after this experience, Zhu Yijun was not only tired physically, but also mentally.

Zhu Yijun, who has also experienced the "appointment of a crown prince", naturally knows very well how badly today's ceremony was conducted.

Zhu Yijun knew better that the reason why his ministers were so eager to set such a very close 'auspicious day' and hold such a messy canonization ceremony in such a hasty manner was mainly because they were afraid that he, the emperor, would 'again 'Repent.

Although he knew it well, Zhu Yijun did not scold his subordinates for not doing things well.

After all, there are only a few dozen days, and it is very rare to be able to gather all the 'things' that should be available in such a short time.

As for the mess, Zhu Yijun didn't care much. After all, in his mind, this 'ceremony for establishing the crown prince' was not a 'real' ceremony for establishing the crown prince.

This time it will be a little more chaotic. Next time, he will definitely hold a real crown prince ceremony for his precious son Zhu Changxun in a grand manner!

"Is he still not out?"

Zhu Yijun asked such a strange question again.

Over the past ten days or so, the accompanying eunuchs, both Zhang Cheng and Chen Ju, have heard this question countless times.

At this moment, the person accompanying the driver was Chen Ju. After more than ten days, the fifty boards he suffered seemed to be completely healed, and he was already full of life and vitality, with eyes full of loyalty.

After all, although His Majesty the Emperor gave him fifty slaps, he still gave him such a high position as Governor of the East Factory. It was too late for him to be happy.

"Returning to the emperor." Chen Ju replied knowingly: "Except for climbing over the wall at night to go to the backyard to be with Miss Zhao, Zhang Chonghui has never been anywhere else."

After hearing this answer, Zhu Yijun couldn't help but frown slightly, as if he was hiding something, and he immediately asked instead:
"Since the eldest son of the emperor has been registered as the crown prince, he can go out of the cabinet to study as 'they' have been clamoring for every day. So, which masters have been arranged by the cabinet to give lectures to the prince?"

"When the emperor comes back, he naturally selects the most senior Hanlin scholars to give lectures to the emperor's eldest son." Chen Ju replied.

"Yeah." After Zhu Yijun responded lightly, he suddenly remembered something and said meaningfully:
"I think there is no need for the most senior Hanlin scholars to give lectures to the emperor...the prince.

The prince is still young, and I am afraid that he will not be able to learn or understand too advanced knowledge.

Just let the youngest Xinke Hanlin teach the prince. It would be easier for young people to communicate with children.

In addition, the prince is still young, and Ciqing Palace is far away from Wenhua Palace, so it will be difficult to travel back and forth, so let the masters go to Ciqing Palace to give lectures. "

The meaning of Emperor Wanli's words was profound. While he made it clear that he did not want his eldest son Zhu Changluo to receive a good 'education', it also revealed another small thought. According to previous rules, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty had to go to the Wenhua Hall in person to wait for the gentlemen to teach him.

But now, Zhu Yijun directly canceled this point, and even changed it to let Hanlin bachelors go to Ciqing Palace to give lectures in person.

Whether Ciqing Palace is far away from Wenhua Palace is one thing, and whether His Majesty the Emperor really feels sorry for his son who is traveling all the way is another matter.

In short, Zhu Yijun's order directly cut off the only 'main' way for the prince to enter the 'inner palace'.

It even cut off some possible connections between the prince and the cabinet.

After hearing this, Chen Ju couldn't help but open his mouth. After being stunned for a moment, he could only reply: "I obey my orders."

"That's right." Zhu Yijun seemed to have suddenly awakened to 'fatherly love' and ordered:
"Chang Luo is the prince now, so there must be a scene. You send more eunuchs and maids to serve him. He should also pay more attention to food and clothing. Don't let outsiders think that I, the father, have treated him harshly."

After hearing such an order from His Majesty the Emperor, Chen Ju was even more moved and thought: "The Emperor still has a prince in his heart!"

No one knows whether Emperor Wanli had Zhu Changluo as his son in his heart.

Zhu Yijun only knows that once the good times pass too long, people will become more and more indulgent!
"Your Majesty." Zhang Cheng came up with a memorial. After kowtowing and saluting, he presented it with both hands and said, "This is the newly recommended candidate for the cabinet by the Ministry of Personnel. Your Majesty, please make the final decision."

Zhu Yijun did not take the memorial, but glanced sideways and asked coldly:
"Aren't there still three people in the cabinet, Wang Xijue, Zhang Wei, and Zhao Zhigao? What is the purpose of recommending someone from the Ministry of Civil Affairs to join the cabinet?"

"Back to the emperor." Zhang Cheng replied: "This matter was proposed by Wang Shoufu. He said that Zhang Wei and Zhao Zhigao, the two cabinet ministers, could not do anything except causing trouble for him. Therefore, Wang Ge was always fighting with the six ministries. After some discussion, the officials made the list.”

"Just adding to the chaos? Ha!" Zhu Yijun sneered and said sarcastically:
"Aren't Zhang Wei and Zhao Zhigao both recommended by Shen Shixing? How could the two 'talents' recommended by Mr. Shen not even be able to do 'business'?"

Zhu Yijun seems to be very happy to see the scenes of dog biting dogs and fighting in the den among his ministers.

After all, he, the aloof emperor and father, was always united by his ministers and made them miserable.

Now that he saw this group of self-proclaimed old foxes having "disagreements" due to "interests", Emperor Wanli inevitably felt the curiosity and pleasure of "watching the excitement is not too big a deal"!

Out of curiosity, Zhu Yijun took the memorial presented by Zhang Cheng and prepared to see whose names were in it.

Zhu Yijun knew very well that among these people, whoever's name came first would most likely be the next chief minister of the cabinet!

Just when Zhu Yijun was wondering which 'old acquaintance' would be the next 'party leader', the name photographed at the front made him blush!
"Yu Shenxing?"

Zhu Yijun, who was already tired and unhappy, felt bad after seeing this name that made him even more unhappy!
Nowadays, everyone in the civil and military dynasties knows that the person he hates the most as the emperor is Yu Shenxing?

In fact, Zhu Yijun didn't originally dislike Mr. Shen Xing.

After Emperor Wanli ascended the throne at the age of ten, Yu Shenxing was once his youngest teacher in Jingfengri Lectures.

The former little Wanli still liked this young and handsome teacher.

However, over the years, Zhu Yijun was almost tortured to death by Mr. Yu Shenxing because of the issue of "establishing a prince".

It's true that Yu Shenxing's "swearing" was too unpleasant. Although every word was unreasonable, it seemed to be well-founded.

The scolding made the emperor Zhu Yijun so angry that Yu Shenxing and all the officials in the Ministry of Rites had their salaries suspended!
That's all. Not long ago, the "three kings merged" issue was obviously not that serious, but Yu Shenxing suddenly took the lead in "taking off his hat and resigning"!
After this incident, Zhu Yijun's "level of opinion" on Shen Xing can be said to have reached its peak!
Yu Shenxing was also very sensible and did not come back to the court again.

Zhu Yijun originally thought that Yu Shenxing should go home to take care of his old age from now on, and that the monarch and his ministers could no longer have contact with each other.

Unexpectedly, now, the first person recommended by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to join the cabinet is Yu Shenxing!
Zhu Yijun was very angry, but when he saw the name of the second-ranked person, he was so angry that he threw the memorial to the ground!
Because the name listed second is Wang Jiaping.

Although Wang Jiaping was silent on weekdays, when he opened his mouth, he was definitely addressing the officials and helping them to 'cruel' His Majesty the Emperor.

It is conceivable that Zhu Yijun, as the emperor, would not like someone like Wang Jiaping who only cares for his colleagues.

"What do you mean by the official department?" Zhu Yijun asked angrily.

Zhu Yijun seriously suspected that the list compiled by the Ministry of Personnel was deliberately used to anger him!

Even without looking at the names at the back, Zhu Yijun already knew who else was there. He could guess with his toes that they must be the people who took the lead in 'opposing' him in the past!
His Majesty the Emperor became angry, and the surrounding palace people hurriedly knelt down. Chen Ju reacted quickly and hurriedly evacuated the 'extra' people.

After only Zhu Yijun, Zhang Cheng, and Chen Ju were left in the hall, Chen Ju picked up the memorial.

After careful inspection, Chen Ju suddenly discovered something was wrong and hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, although there are many signatures of officials from the Ministry of Personnel in this memorial, the name of Lu Guangzu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is not included.

The person whose signature ranks first is Gu Xiancheng, a member of the civil service department who just joined Beijing not long ago. "

"Gu Xiancheng?" Zhu Yijun also frowned when he heard this and asked: "Is this the Gu Xiancheng who came all the way to pick up Zhang Chonghui on that first snowy night?"

"If you go back to the emperor, it's him!" Zhang Cheng answered first:

"I heard that Gu Xiancheng waited for Zhang Chonghui in the snow for nearly two hours that night!

When Gu Xiancheng and Zhang Chonghui left that night, they were even arm-in-arm, and they seemed to have a very good relationship! "

As soon as Zhang Cheng said this, Zhu Yijun thought of one thing almost instantly——

——Gu Xiancheng must have been ordered by Zhang Chonghui! Only then did he deliberately recommend Yu Shenxing, Wang Jiaping and others to the cabinet! It's so disgusting to see him as an emperor!

"Okay! Okay!" Zhu Yijun seemed to have grabbed some pigtails, with a proud smile on his face and a sneer in his heart:
"You think you want to see me again like this? What a beautiful thought!"

"Your Majesty...it doesn't seem right?" Chen Ju frowned and hesitated to speak.

Zhu Yijun frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Return to your Majesty." Chen Ju talked about his doubts and said:
"My servant remembers that when Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill, there were only a few officials in Beijing who were not afraid of power and did not go to the Zhang family to curry favor, and Gu Xiancheng was one of them.

Moreover, Gu Xiancheng and Zou Yuanbiao had a close relationship in private. Zou Yuanbiao was sent to the mountains of Yunnan and Guizhou for six years because he offended Zhang Juzheng, and almost died there.

So this servant thought... It seems impossible for Gu Xiancheng to have a good relationship with Zhang Juzheng's descendant Zhang Chonghui, right? Is there... any... misunderstanding here? "

Chen Ju's words successfully silenced his Majesty the Emperor.

Just when Zhu Yijun was wondering about Zhang Chonghui's purpose, he received another piece of new news that made his eyes light up!
"Your Majesty! According to reports from the people below! That boy Zhang Chonghui has finally gone out! And he is so bold! He went straight to the East Palace of His Highness the Crown Prince!"

(End of this chapter)