Chapter 9: Wanli

His son Zhu Yijun inherited one-third of his grandfather Jiajing's ruthless and cold-hearted nature, along with one-third of his father Longqing's softness. As long as he can win someone's favor, he will be obedient to them. From a woman's perspective, Empress Dowager Li envies Consort Zheng. Which woman does not long for her husband's wholehearted love? Empress Dowager Li is also a woman; what woman does not understand another woman?

The anger of Concubine Zheng is palpable. I initially intended to humiliate this old woman thoroughly, but unexpectedly, she turned the tables on me. It is evident that she reprimanded me in front of everyone for not knowing my place and for being indiscriminate. She is not someone to be easily bullied. Since the mask has been torn off, if you are unkind, I shall not be righteous either. It is not merely a matter of who can rub salt into the wounds; let the contest begin.

One must understand their place and adhere to their duties; only then can the world be at peace and the four seas be tranquil. Do you all agree? This statement, however, was not directed solely at Consort Zheng. At that moment, led by Consort Gong, everyone in the palace rose from their seats and bowed in respect. "Your Majesty's teachings are indeed wise."

In the play, the princess Dai Zhan has contributed to the rise of the dragon yet resides in the Western Palace, though somewhat wronged, she is favored by the king. Her beautiful appearance naturally surpasses that of a plain woman, so it cannot be considered too much of a loss. Wang Baochuan, after enduring eighteen years in a cold cave, has exchanged her suffering for the title of empress, yet this empress, born from hardship, appears rather shabby... Don't you think so, Your Majesty?" The way "Your Majesty" is called lingers in the air, leaving a lasting impression... Don't you think so, Your Majesty?" The way "Your Majesty" is called lingers in the air, leaving a lasting impression

Cursing oneself to a short life is one thing, but cursing oneself to be childless is akin to stabbing the lungs of the king and queen with one's own hand! No matter how well the queen has cultivated herself or how deep her understanding, she was still so enraged by these words that her whole body trembled and her lips turned pale. She slammed her hand on the table and, gritting her teeth, shouted: "Zheng Fei, how dare you!"

How could Queen Wang allow herself to be led by the nose! With a gentle smile and a shake of her head, she exuded an air of nonchalance and grace. "This palace has no leisure to concern itself with these wild historical tales; it is merely a play, why take it seriously?"

"Zheng Fei, what exactly do you want to say?" Although Empress Wang's heart was in turmoil, her expression remained as calm as a mountain. Zhu Changlao observed this clearly from the side and secretly admired the Empress, realizing that she was indeed extraordinary. Just based on her ability to maintain composure, she surpassed the proud Zheng Guifei by several mountains.

A few days later, the Minister of Personnel, Yang Tingxiang, submitted a memorial in support of Jiang Yinglin. Since the Wanli Emperor had already opened the floodgates for executions, there was no room for courtesy; he was directly ordered to leave. It is evident that these ministers, in a fit of madness, fully embodied the spirit of knowingly walking into a tiger's den, displaying an extraordinary level of fearless combat spirit that left the emperor astounded. They were unafraid of demotion, unafraid of execution, unafraid of exile, charging forward one after another, each carrying a bundle of explosives.

The Yonghe Palace suddenly fell into a deathly silence; those who had been sweating earlier were now no longer doing so, and all were shivering in unison. It was clear to anyone who was not a fool that this was referring to Wang Baochuan, in fact, it was about Empress Wang. This was not only a veiled insinuation, but also a malicious intent, deliberately picking at the wounds of Empress Wang with great fervor.

None of this escaped the eyes of Empress Dowager Li. Having experienced three reigns, she was a concubine of the Duke of Yu during the reign of Emperor Jiajing, a position that was not particularly esteemed. Fortunately, she bore a son, and with the advantage of being a mother to a son, she gained an opportunity to rise in status. Now, as the Empress Dowager, she holds the highest position of power in the palace.

Empress Dowager Li sat solemnly, her imposing gaze sweeping across the entire hall. Having received a secret report from Hui Chun earlier, she was already mentally prepared for the matters concerning Yonghe Palace and was not particularly astonished.

The more people cause a commotion, the larger the matter becomes, and now even the local officials from hetushu.com have begun to submit petitions. The entire Ming Dynasty is in utter chaos, filled with smoke and miasma

Emperor Wanli, Zhu Yijun, has recently been quite troubled and has been feeling this way for some time. The source of his distress stems from the elevation of Consort Zheng to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort. Ever since this edict was issued, the number of memorials piled up on the dragon desk in the Qianqing Palace has become higher than a mountain. It is not surprising that those hypocritical ministers, who usually oppose him for no reason, are now against him regarding the forced promotion of the Imperial Noble Consort. However, it is astonishing that even the censors he personally promoted and supported have united to oppose him.

At this moment, Consort Zheng was already in tears, looking at Emperor Wanli Zhu Yijun with immense grievance, her words caught in her throat. Her silence spoke volumes, affecting Emperor Wanli deeply. Thinking of the Empress, the instigator of such heartache, he shot a fierce glare in her direction.

First, the Minister of Revenue, Jiang Yinglin, and the Deputy Minister of Personnel, Shen Jing, submitted a petition of protest. Wanli was not polite; he shot the leading bird and decisively removed them from their positions and exiled them! However, unexpectedly, this action stirred up a hornet's nest, and the malevolent wind not only did not subside but instead intensified.

Lady Zheng, you are mistaken; I hold a different view from yours. Although Princess Dai Zhan is favored by her husband, she is ultimately a concubine, while Wang Baochuan is the legitimate wife, a virtuous woman who has steadfastly endured in her humble abode, earning the admiration of countless people. It must be said that a legitimate wife is a legitimate wife, and a concubine is a concubine; who would dare to disrupt the rules passed down by our ancestors for thousands of years? Even if Xue Pinggui loves Dai Zhan, does the position of the Empress not still belong to Wang Baochuan?

The room was filled with a collective breath as the firefighters arrived. Queen Wang and Concubine Zheng exchanged a resentful glance, their eyes sparking with a flurry of tension. In unison, they snorted through their noses and each rose to meet the arrival.

The neck of Concubine Zheng is slender - picture - book, her eyes wide open! Who can't slap the table? You slap, I slap! "Your Highness, I merely spoke some idle lines from a play. Are you trying to accuse me of something so publicly?"

Consort Zheng is also single, thinking to herself, why are you only getting angry now? You should have been angry long ago; it would be better if you were furious!

Queen Wang, who had regained her calm and composure, chose to ignore the Emperor's furious gaze directed at her. However, her complexion inexplicably paled a few shades more.

The heart of an emperor is the most ruthless. After the coup in the Renyin Palace, his vigilance towards the harem was even stronger than that towards the eunuchs. During the reign of Emperor Jiajing, for several decades, there were no reports of concubines in the harem vying for favor or jealousy. It was not because the women were of high quality, but rather because no one had the courage to do so.

The Emperor may favor his consorts, but he must not show exclusive favoritism. Consort Zheng, relying on her favor, has become arrogant and must be properly suppressed. If this continues, it will inevitably lead to significant troubles in the future. Empress Dowager Li has made up her mind.

The atmosphere was as frozen as ice, and everyone was stunned into silence. The two deities finally clashed. No one knew how things would proceed from here. Even Zhu Changluo watched in astonishment: My goodness, the intensity of this confrontation is truly exhilarating. Being present in person is far more thrilling than watching it on television.

Zhu Changluo's heart began to race. The Emperor is his father, and the Empress Dowager is his grandmother. With both of them present, Zhu Changluo felt a bit shy and somewhat nervous

The expression on Queen Wang's face instantly became extremely awkward. It was a clear case of pointing at a monk while scolding a bald thief, openly using one metaphor to criticize another! It was evident that she was being compared to Dai Zhan, while he was likening himself to Wang Baochuan. Every word and phrase was a satire on her lack of favor from the Emperor, using the Cold Palace as a metaphor for her own situation, mocking her as a faded beauty.

Not far away, Zhu Changluo quietly observed the lofty figure of the man not far from him, Emperor Wanli, Zhu Yijun. This is the emperor who reigned the longest in the dynasty, achieving an astonishing feat in the history of Chinese emperors that has never been seen before and will never be seen again: during his forty-eight years on the throne, he suspended court for over thirty years, yet imperial power remained as solid as a mountain!

The Empress Dowager's teachings are indeed profound. Speaking with the Empress Dowager has proven to be immensely beneficial. However, does the Empress Dowager know what ultimately became of Wang Baochuan?

Are you the emperor or am I the emperor? Why is it so difficult to grant a position to the woman I love? As the smoke of battle dissipates, looking at the largely empty and serene council hall, the feeling of victory brings an indescribable sensation to Wanli's heart

What has Empress Dowager Li not seen in the matters of the harem? What can she not perceive? Just a glance at her son's infatuated expression, and then at Concubine Zheng and Empress Wang, and Empress Dowager Li understands everything.

Before he could think much, the Emperor had already assisted Empress Dowager Li onto the stage. One by one, everyone fell to the ground like a group of overturned gourds. After shouting "Long live the Emperor," they had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, who sat down beside the Emperor.

If it were in the Jiajing imperial harem, Consort Zheng would undoubtedly meet the same fate as Consort Cao of the past, unable to escape the sentence of death. Emperor Jiajing was powerful, suspicious, and emotionally detached; his greatest love was only for himself, showing indifference even towards his son, and women were easily discarded.

The Empress Dowager is not necessarily old, this is Zhu Changluo's first impression. Unlike the countless elderly Empress Dowagers seen in historical dramas, the current Empress Dowager Li has a fair and tender complexion, with a rosy and radiant face. Aside from her slightly graying hair, she appears even younger than his own mother, Concubine Gong.

Queen Wang, with a mere four taels, can move a thousand pounds, while Concubine Zheng cannot fulfill her wishes. Seizing the opportunity to speak, she said: "Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once stated that history serves as a mirror, allowing us to understand the rise and fall of dynasties. The words of a wise ruler are indeed correct. Your Highness believes that scripts and books are of no use, but I contend that life is like a play, and a play is like life, isn't it?"

The people below naturally divided into two factions. Those guarding the Empress Dowager were naturally the Empress and Consort Gong, while those attending to the Emperor were undoubtedly Consort Zheng.

Queen Wang's last shred of patience was finally worn away by the repeated provocations of Concubine Zheng, and her expression finally turned serious. "Concubine Zheng, feel free to say whatever you wish; I am listening."

However, it was only a few days into the comfortable days that the Empress unexpectedly clashed with Consort Zheng. Zhu Yijun found this quite unbelievable. He did not love the Empress, but neither did he harbor any hatred towards her. The Empress was not particularly attractive and did not win his favor. However, he greatly admired her intelligence and cleverness. He was particularly fond of Consort Zheng, even willing to risk public outrage by promoting her to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort, second only to the Empress. To speak honestly, up until now, he had never entertained the thought of deposing Empress Wang.

However, things are different now. The Emperor Wanli, filled with fighting spirit due to the promotion incident, instinctively raised the antennae on his head. A dragon has its reverse scales, and touching them will surely provoke its wrath. Concubine Zheng is the reverse scale of Wanli, and even the Empress cannot intervene!

Since Your Majesty is so eager to know, I shall speak without reservation. Wang Baochuan, who spent eighteen years in the cold kiln, not only had no children but also, it is said, passed away just eighteen days after becoming empress. Alas, it seems that fate has its own timing; what is not destined cannot be forced. One's circumstances in life are determined by heaven, wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?

With ulterior motives, her words are worthy of condemnation! Even a fool can discern that Consort Zheng's covetousness for the position of Empress is glaringly obvious. Empress Wang let out a cold laugh; how could she allow others to sleep soundly beside her bed? If the narcissus does not bloom, do you think it is garlic? If the tiger does not show its might, do you think it is a sick cat?

At the moment of intense engagement, a sharp voice shouted from outside: "The Emperor has arrived." "The Empress Dowager has arrived."