Chapter 1 I am Chongzhen
What? Even the usually composed Cao Huachun was taken aback by Wang Cheng'en's words, losing his composure and exclaiming in shock.
He was deep in thought when suddenly hurried footsteps were heard from outside the palace. In the quiet dawn, the sound was quite pronounced. If it were not for an urgent situation, anyone walking within the palace would tread lightly, and such noise would certainly not occur.
Hu Guang understood his current situation, and his heart was filled with bitterness. He had thought that becoming an emperor would allow him to enjoy life, but unexpectedly, it was the beginning of a hellish mode
At this very moment, the soul of the original owner of this body, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the tragically colored Emperor Chongzhen, has merged with that of Hu Guang.
He straightened his back while thinking, releasing his hands to block the two claws of the eunuch that were attempting to reach out, and simultaneously said: "I... am fine!"
At this moment, as he thought about how young his body was, Hu Guang suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. Just then, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his head, as if something were about to tear it apart, and countless pieces of information were forcefully crammed into his mind
The eunuchs on duty outside heard the sound and realized that the Emperor was unwell, and the situation was urgent. Almost as soon as the voice in the study fell silent, they hurriedly rolled and crawled away.
Cao Huachun did not think it was the imperial physician, but rather that his godson had arrived. He slightly furrowed his brows and looked at Emperor Chongzhen. Seeing him nod, he inclined his head and instructed, "Come in"
The chief eunuch among them, dressed in a crimson official robe, appeared to be in his forties, with a hint of concern on his face. He stood by the imperial table, tentatively calling out: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
The armies of the world are diligently supporting the king, and they have been fighting outside the capital for several days. The Ming army dares not engage the enemy in open battle, relying instead on the city walls to defend themselves, yet even so, they suffer more defeats than victories
Before long, accompanied by a rush of cold air, Wang Cheng'en appeared in the imperial study, having circled around the screen at the entrance. He hurriedly walked forward with small steps, raising a memorial high with both hands, and bowed as he reported: "The Chief Minister urgently reports that the troops in Liaodong were defeated last night, and by dawn, there was no trace left."
The Emperor is wholeheartedly devoted to revitalizing the Ming Dynasty, diligently working to govern with great effort and care, a level of dedication rarely seen throughout history. However, unexpectedly, just over two years into his reign, foreign enemies have invaded to the very gates of the capital, which is truly unfair! ... It must be said that the Emperor is still too young and has experienced too little ...
A young eunuch by the door, upon hearing this, hurriedly shouted outside: "Quick, summon the imperial physician, quickly, quickly!"
The several eunuchs and palace maids serving in the hall exchanged glances, unsure why this young emperor, after waking from a slumber and losing his composure for a moment, was now laughing there
Previously, Hu Guang had learned from this eunuch that this was the Imperial Study. At this moment, upon hearing him speak, he turned to look outside the hall and indeed noticed a faint glimmer of light. Clearly, the darkest hour had passed, and dawn was approaching. This indicates that this emperor had been working overtime almost all night; how diligent he must be!
Hehe, the heavens are truly wonderful, allowing me to traverse time and become an emperor! How magnificent! ... Words of gold ... ... Three thousand beauties in the harem ... ...
The nearly three hundred years of history of the Ming Dynasty poses no concern of national extinction as long as one does not find oneself in the body of Chongzhen. One can eat, drink, and enjoy life without worry, as long as one does not bring about one's own demise. Being an emperor is truly wonderful
In the royal army, when it comes to elite forces, it is undoubtedly the Guanning Army from the Shanhaiguan in Liaodong. There were hopes of relying on this elite Ming army to resist the Jurchens, but unexpectedly, the Jurchens continued to ravage, and the Guanning Army actually disbanded
The emperor of the Ming Dynasty, known for his diligent governance, immediately thought of a few individuals: the founding emperor Hongwu, the Yongle emperor of the Chengzu era, and the last emperor Chongzhen
After Hu Guang clarified his identity, he could not help but feel overjoyed. He sat there in a daze, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Anyone who saw him would know that he was in a very good mood at that moment
Upon seeing that eunuch, he was immediately taken aback and turned around to command, "Quick, quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Hu Guang knew this person, and when Emperor Chongzhen later hanged himself at Meishan, only Wang Cheng'en was by his side. By this account, Wang Cheng'en can be considered a man of integrity among the eunuchs, someone who could be trusted
This eunuch, Cao Huachun, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Sacrificial Office, was once a companion in the Prince of Xin's residence and was one of Emperor Chongzhen's trusted confidants. He was well aware of the emperor's temperament, and it must have been quite painful just now. Although he appeared fine at the moment, he was still very concerned.
As soon as his voice fell, the sound of footsteps arrived at the palace gate, and then a sharp voice came in: "The eunuch Wang Cheng'en from the Court of Ceremonial has an urgent memorial to present to the Emperor."
At this point, Hu Guang was pondering how to inquire about the current era name when he noticed that the eunuch had a concerned expression on his face. In a sharp voice, he quietly said: "Your Majesty, it will soon be dawn. Perhaps you should return to the palace to rest! The state affairs are as they are; for the sake of the common people, Your Majesty should prioritize your health!"
Hmm? Hu Guang was called back to his senses by him, and with a grunt, his attention shifted to this eunuch. In his previous life, he had watched many historical films and read novels, and he could discern that this seemed to be a eunuch from the Ming Dynasty, but he could not tell which period it was from
At this time, it was the early morning of the fourth day of the twelfth month in the second year of the Chongzhen era. The northeastern Jurchens took a detour through the Mongolian grasslands, breaching the Da'an Pass, Longjing Pass, and Hongshan Pass, and were poised at the gates of the capital city.
The evil wolf arrived at the doorstep, and Emperor Chongzhen could not sleep at night. He toiled day and night, not knowing why, when he leaned back on the dragon throne and closed his eyes to rest, he was unexpectedly soul-transmigrated.
He couldn't help but let out a sound of "ah," as he placed both hands on either side of his forehead, vigorously rubbing it while lowering his head, attempting to alleviate the pain.
Wang Cheng'en, a native of Hebei, around twenty years old, comes from a background in the inner school. Six years ago, due to his outstanding performance, he was assigned to the Imperial Sacrificial Office for writing, under the name of Cao Huachun. He has now just become a eunuch attending the Imperial Sacrificial Office.
As soon as this thought emerged, the eunuchs and palace maids were taken aback, and they immediately felt a sense of inner remorse. The Emperor is the true dragon among men; how could he possibly be afflicted by the madness of gain and loss
Hu Guang, that is, Emperor Chongzhen instinctively turned his head to look. Upon seeing this, Cao Huachun quickly reported in a low voice: "I have just sent someone to summon the imperial physician, he should be here soon"
At that moment, Hu Guang felt a sharp pain in his head, akin to the slogans found in restrooms, arriving hastily and departing just as quickly, and then the pain subsided.
After speaking, he attempted to help the emperor massage his forehead, but Hu Guang's own hands were pressing against his forehead, leaving him with no place to assist
Under the concern of the eunuch in the crimson official robe, he extended his well-maintained hands and anxiously said: "Your Majesty, you are too tired; allow me to help you with a massage!"
In such a situation, how can His Majesty still manage to smile? Could it be that the situation has deteriorated to this extent in recent days, causing His Majesty to toil day and night, exhausting himself, lacking sufficient rest, and his health suffering, leading to a bit of madness?